非 A 非 B
neither A nor B (but an odd mixture, or something else)
Structure
非 A 非 B
What it means
“Neither A nor B”: usually hints at an awkward in-between thing (非驴非马), or, in 非亲非故, at having no tie at all. 非 is the written 不是.
How it is built
非 + one-syllable A + 非 + one-syllable B, used like an idiom, as a predicate or with 的 before a noun: 一种非中非西的风格 (a style neither Chinese nor Western).
When to use it
Written and idiomatic: 非中非西, 非亲非故, 非敌非友. In speech say 既不是 A，也不是 B. Not 非 A 即 B “if not A then B” (非黑即白), nor 非……不可 “must”.
Watch out
A and B are one syllable each: ✗ 非中国非西方 ✓ 非中非西, or say 既不是中国的，也不是西方的.
Examples
有人担心这首曲子非中非西，结果它却打动了中外听众。
Some feared the piece would be neither Chinese nor Western, but in the end it moved listeners at home and abroad.
他和我非亲非故，却在我最困难的时候帮了我一把。
He was neither relative nor friend, yet he gave me a hand when I was at my lowest.
两国的关系非敌非友，一直十分微妙。
Relations between the two countries are neither hostile nor friendly, and have always been delicate.
Learn this in Lesson 242 · HSK 9+: 《梁祝》小提琴协奏曲 (The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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