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什么X的Y的

never mind X or Y; X, Y, whatever (waving a distinction away)

Structure
什么 X 的 Y 的 , 都/就行/一样 …

What it means

Never mind X or Y; X, Y, whatever: brushes aside a distinction the speaker thinks does not matter.

How it is built

什么 + X + 的 + Y + 的,+ what counts (都, 就行, 一样): 什么贵的便宜的,好用就行 (Never mind dear or cheap; as long as it works).

When to use it

Spoken, sometimes impatient, often warm-hearted (什么你的我的,咱们谁跟谁呀). X and Y are usually a pair or opposites. With one word: 什么X不X的 (什么钱不钱的).

Watch out

Don’t drop the second 的: ✗什么贵的便宜,好用就行 ✓什么贵的便宜的,好用就行. The next clause says what really counts.

Examples

什么大官小官的,到了医院都得排队。
Big official, small official, whatever: at the hospital everyone queues.
什么你的我的,咱们谁跟谁呀!
Yours, mine, what does it matter? We are practically family!
什么贵的便宜的,好用就行。
Never mind dear or cheap; as long as it works.
Learn this in Lesson 221 · HSK 9+: 老舍的《茶馆》 (Lao She’s Teahouse and the Beijing voice)
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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