X 也不是，不 X 也不是
damned if you do, damned if you don’t; neither will do
Structure
动词 也不是，不 动词 也不是
What it means
“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t”: both doing it and not doing it feel wrong, so the speaker is stuck.
How it is built
Verb + 也不是，不 + same verb + 也不是, usually a one-syllable verb: 我说也不是，不说也不是 (speaking up felt wrong, and so did keeping quiet).
When to use it
Spoken and a little rueful, often after 真是 or 弄得我. A related form pairs two opposite verbs: 站也不是，坐也不是 (too ill at ease to settle).
Watch out
Keep both 也不是: ✗ 看也不是，不看 ✓ 看也不是，不看也不是. It is not for a real choice between two good options; say 不知道该…还是….
Examples
可一到除夕，大多数人家还是照例打开电视：看也不是，不看也不是。
Yet when New Year’s Eve comes round, most households switch on the television as usual: they can neither enjoy it nor do without it.
老板在会上把数字说错了，我说也不是，不说也不是。
The boss got the figures wrong in the meeting, and I was stuck: speaking up felt wrong, and so did keeping quiet.
朋友送的毛衣太小了，穿也不是，不穿也不是。
The jumper my friend gave me is too small: I can’t wear it, and I can’t not wear it either.
Learn this in Lesson 234 · HSK 9+: 春晚 (The Spring Festival Gala)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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