双重否定
double negation: two negatives that make a strong yes
Structure
没有 人／什么 … 不 动词 ； 不能不／不会不／不是不 动词
What it means
Two negatives that make a strong yes: 没有人不知道 means absolutely everyone knows. 不是不… works the other way and softens a refusal.
How it is built
没有 + 人／什么 + … + 不 + verb: 没有人不知道“八”是个吉利数字 (everyone knows 8 is lucky). 不能不 + verb = must: 礼物是不能不带的 (you simply must bring a present).
When to use it
Says more than a plain positive. 我不是不想去，是实在没时间 softens a refusal. You already know 不得不 (must, reluctantly) and 非…不可 from lesson 2-2.
Watch out
Check that both negatives are there: 没有人不知道 (everyone knows) and 没有人知道 (nobody knows) mean opposite things.
Examples
在中国，没有人不知道“八”是个吉利数字。
In China there is nobody who does not know that 8 is a lucky number.
去别人家做客，礼物是不能不带的。
When you visit someone’s home, you simply must take a present.
我不是不想去，是实在没时间。
It is not that I do not want to go; I really have no time.
Learn this in Lesson 37 · HSK 5–6: 讨个吉利 (Lucky numbers and lucky words)
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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