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LEARN + CHINESE / 232 of 300 HSK 6

Ask Once, Find Out 不X不…

These are fixed conversational frames. Learn each as a whole: the repeated words and the sentence ending carry the attitude.

From Not Knowing to Finding Out

不X不……,一X…… sets up a contrast: without X, the result does not happen; once X happens, something follows.

不问不知道,一问吓一跳。
Bù wèn bù zhīdào, yì wèn xià yí tiào.
If you don’t ask, you won’t know; ask once and you may be surprised.

An Emphatic Address

好你个X calls someone out with strong feeling. Depending on tone, it can sound admiring, teasing, or annoyed.

好你个小王,真有你的!
Hǎo nǐ ge Xiǎo Wáng, zhēn yǒu nǐ de!
Well, Xiao Wang, you really did it!

Whatever You Say Goes

动词+什么就是什么 accepts the other person’s wording or decision, sometimes sincerely and sometimes with a hint of resignation.

你说什么就是什么。
Nǐ shuō shénme jiù shì shénme.
Whatever you say goes.
Hint · 힌트
Read the frame as a whole before translating each word. The repeated words are part of the pattern, not accidental repetition.
In Real Life
These forms are conversational: speakers use them to show annoyance, resignation, or emphasis. Tone of voice helps you tell playful teasing from real criticism.

Vocabulary

ChineseEnglish
wèn
to ask
zhīdào
to know
xià
to frighten; scare
tiào
to jump
wèntí
question; problem
dá'àn
answer; solution
fāxiàn
to discover
liǎojiě
to understand; realize
gàosu
to tell
xiāoxi
news; message
zhùyì
to pay attention to
yìwài
unexpected; accident
bànfǎ
method; way
jiéguǒ
result; as a result
shìqing
matter; thing
fāshēng
to happen; occur
hàoqí
curious
jiǎnchá
to inspect; check
kàn
to look; read
tīng
to listen

YOUR PROGRESS

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