可 V 可不 V 的 + 名词
that one may or may not V; optional, dispensable
Structure
可 动词 可不 动词 的 名词 ， 处理（删去／不买／不去…）
What it means
Marks something as optional, 'that one may or may not V', and the sentence usually goes on to say: so drop it.
How it is built
可 + one-syllable verb + 可不 + same verb + 的 + noun，+ decision (删, 别买, 不去, 推掉): 可买可不买的东西，最好别买 (If you can take it or leave it, it is best not to buy it). Also as a predicate: 这个会可开可不开.
When to use it
Editing rules, advice, personal habits. Lu Xun's advice to cut 可有可无的字 uses the fixed form of the same idea (可有可无, dispensable). 可以删也可以不删的 is grammatical but clumsy.
Watch out
Same verb, fixed order: ✗ 可删不删 ✗ 可不删可删 ✓ 可删可不删. Do not confuse it with 可 X 可 Y for two alternatives: 可大可小 (it can be big or small).
Examples
可删可不删的字，一律删去。
If a word can go, it goes.
可买可不买的东西，最好别买。
If you can take it or leave it, it is best not to buy it.
可去可不去的饭局，我一般都推掉。
Dinners I can take or leave, I generally turn down.
Learn this in Lesson 254 · HSK 9+: 一本书的诞生 (How a book is made)
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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