有什么好……的 · A是A，B是B
there’s nothing worth …-ing · A is A and B is B (keep them apart)
Structure
（没） 有什么好 + 动词 + 的 · A 是 A ， B 是 B
What it means
有什么好 + verb + 的？ is a strong statement in question form: there is no reason to do it. A是A，B是B keeps two things apart: one should not affect the other.
How it is built
有什么好 + verb + 的？: 已经过去了，有什么好后悔的？ (It’s over now. What’s there to regret?) Statement form: 没什么好 + verb + 的. Repeat each word: 工作是工作，生活是生活.
When to use it
Like the 反问句 of h4-14 (谁不……？), use 有什么好……的 to calm someone down, cheer them up or brush something off. Use A是A，B是B when two things that should stay separate get mixed up.
Watch out
Don’t answer it as a real question: 有什么好怕的？ means “there’s nothing to be afraid of”. In the statement form use 没, not 不: ✓ 没什么好难过的。
Examples
已经过去了，有什么好后悔的？
It’s over now. What’s there to regret?
只是一次小考试，没什么好难过的。
It was only a small test; nothing to be upset about.
工作是工作，生活是生活，周末我不看邮件。
Work is work and life is life: I don’t read emails at weekends.
朋友是朋友，钱是钱，借钱的事要说清楚。
Friends are friends and money is money: when you lend money, be clear about it.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 24: 后悔 (Regrets)
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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