什么 A 不 A 的
never mind all this talk of A; A doesn’t matter
Structure
什么 A 不 A 的 ， 说话人真正在乎的事
What it means
Picks up a word someone has just used, often their objection, and waves it away: “never mind all this talk of A”.
How it is built
什么 + A + 不 + A + 的，then what really matters: 什么贵不贵的，喜欢就买！ (never mind the price; if you like it, buy it!)
When to use it
Spoken, and it can sound brusque, so it suits friends and family more than a meeting. It looks like a question but expects no answer.
Watch out
Repeat A exactly: ✗ 什么贵不便宜的 ✓ 什么贵不贵的. Keep the 的 at the end, and avoid it with people you need to be polite to.
Examples
什么智商税不智商税的，千金难买心头好！
IQ tax, my foot. You can’t put a price on what you love!
什么贵不贵的，喜欢就买！
Never mind whether it is expensive. If you like it, buy it!
什么面子不面子的，先把问题解决了再说。
Forget about face; let’s sort the problem out first.
Learn this in Lesson 62 · HSK 6: 国潮与潮玩 (China-chic and designer toys)
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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