RealHSK

HSK 5Lesson 6 of 11 · 7 grammar points

Spoken stance and resistance

Colloquial frames can praise, reproach, dismiss a concern, exploit an opportunity or signal resigned agreement. Supply a plausible conversational context before using them. Dictionary equivalence alone cannot teach whether a sentence will sound friendly.

Learning goals (7)
  • A conclusion despite qualifications.
  • Admiration or reproach.
  • Rejecting an action with x什么x.
  • Dismissing a distinction.
  • An opportunity not to miss.
  • Repetition with the same result.
  • Following someone's decision.

不管怎样说

A conclusion despite qualifications

不管怎样说 returns to a conclusion that holds despite previous qualifications.

不管怎样说，他已经尽力了。

Bù guǎn zěn yàng shuō, tā yǐ jīng jìn lì le.

Whatever else may be said, he has done his best.

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Pitfall: The phrase summarizes a stance; it is not asking how to phrase something.

真有你/他/她的

Admiration or reproach

真有你的 can praise ingenuity or reproach conduct depending on context and intonation.

这么难的题你都做出来了，真有你的！

Zhè me nán de tí nǐ dōu zuò chū lái le, zhēn yǒu nǐ de!

You even solved such a hard problem—impressive!

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Pitfall: The same words can be sarcastic; identify the surrounding attitude.

X什么X

Rejecting an action with X什么X

Repeat a verb around 什么 to dismiss or challenge the action.

笑什么笑，认真一点！

Xiào shén me xiào, rèn zhēn yī diǎn!

Stop laughing and take this seriously!

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Pitfall: This is confrontational, not a neutral question about what caused laughter.

什么麻烦不麻烦的

Dismissing a distinction

什么X不X的 rejects a concern or distinction as irrelevant.

什么麻烦不麻烦的，你说吧。

Shén me má fan bù má fan de, nǐ shuō ba.

Don't worry about whether it's a bother—tell me.

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Pitfall: Its force is pragmatic; do not translate the repetition word for word.

不X白不X

An opportunity not to miss

不X白不X suggests there is little to lose or an opportunity would be wasted by not acting.

既然票都买了，不看白不看。

Jì rán piào dōu mǎi le, bù kàn bái bù kàn.

Since the tickets are bought, we might as well watch.

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Pitfall: The expression is colloquial and can sound opportunistic.

X来X去，都是/就是…

Repetition with the same result

X来X去，都是/就是… says repeated attempts or discussion keep reaching the same point.

说来说去，就是这个问题。

Shuō lái shuō qù, jiù shì zhè ge wèn tí.

After all that discussion, it comes down to this issue.

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Pitfall: Do not infer that the repeated process produced varied outcomes.

说是什么就是什么

Following someone's decision

V什么就是什么 gives effect to whatever is said or selected, sometimes signaling deference or resignation.

你说是什么就是什么吧。

Nǐ shuō shì shén me jiù shì shén me ba.

Fine, whatever you say it is.

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Pitfall: Depending on tone, this may be reluctant agreement rather than sincere endorsement.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • A conclusion despite qualifications

    Syllabus item
    不管怎样说
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-035
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)

  • Admiration or reproach

    Syllabus item
    真有你/他/她的
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-036
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)

  • Rejecting an action with X什么X

    Syllabus item
    X什么X
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-037
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)

  • Dismissing a distinction

    Syllabus item
    什么X不X（的）
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-038
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)

  • An opportunity not to miss

    Syllabus item
    不X白不X
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-039
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)

  • Repetition with the same result

    Syllabus item
    X来X去，都是/就是……
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-040
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)

  • Following someone's decision

    Syllabus item
    动词+什么（就）是什么
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-041
    PDF page
    399 (printed 396)