RealHSK

HSK 6Lesson 6 of 9 · 5 grammar points

Acceptance, frustration and boundaries

Spoken frames can criticize an unused opportunity, accept an accomplished fact, reject every option or separate domains. The same literal words may sound playful or sharp. Use the surrounding dialogue to decide how a character feels.

Learning goals (5)
  • Ignoring an available option.
  • Accepting an accomplished fact.
  • Rejecting every option.
  • Separating domains with 归.
  • Reacting to someone's manner or state.

放着X不Y

Ignoring an available option

放着X不Y criticizes failure to use or do something available while choosing another course.

放着好好的房子不住，为什么要搬走？

Fàng zhe hǎo hǎo de fáng zi bù zhù, wèi shén me yào bān zǒu?

Why move away when you have a perfectly good home to live in?

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Pitfall: The phrase presupposes an available option and often expresses disapproval.

错了就错了

Accepting an accomplished fact

X了就X了 accepts that an event has happened and challenges continued concern.

错了就错了，有什么不能改的？

Cuò le jiù cuò le, yǒu shén me bù néng gǎi de?

So a mistake was made—why can't it be corrected?

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Pitfall: Acceptance of the fact does not necessarily endorse the mistake.

这/那也不X，那/这也不Y

Rejecting every option

这也不X，那也不Y complains that none of the available options satisfies someone.

这也不行，那也不好，你想怎么办？

Zhè yě bù xíng, nà yě bù hǎo, nǐ xiǎng zěn me bàn?

This won't do and that isn't good either—what do you want to do?

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Pitfall: It often conveys frustration rather than an impartial list.

X归X，Y归Y

Separating domains with 归

X归X，Y归Y says different matters should be treated independently.

玩归玩，学习归学习。

Wán guī wán, xué xí guī xué xí.

Play is play, and study is study.

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Pitfall: 归 is part of a contrastive frame, not literally returning something.

看你X的/瞧他X的

Reacting to someone's manner or state

看你X的/瞧他X的 draws attention to a noticeable state, often teasing or reproachful.

看你高兴的，都笑出声了。

Kàn nǐ gāo xìng de, dōu xiào chū shēng le.

Look how happy you are—you are laughing out loud.

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Pitfall: The expression depends on interpersonal tone; it is not a neutral observation in every context.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Ignoring an available option

    Syllabus item
    放着X不Y
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-035
    PDF page
    402 (printed 399)

  • Accepting an accomplished fact

    Syllabus item
    X了就X了，（没）有……
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-036
    PDF page
    402 (printed 399)

  • Rejecting every option

    Syllabus item
    这/那也不X，那/这也不Y
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-037
    PDF page
    402 (printed 399)

  • Separating domains with 归

    Syllabus item
    X归X，Y归Y
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-038
    PDF page
    402 (printed 399)

  • Reacting to someone's manner or state

    Syllabus item
    看你X的/瞧他X的
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-039
    PDF page
    402 (printed 399)