Condensed Complex Sentences with 不……不…… in Chinese
不……不……紧缩复句
The condensed frame 不…不… compresses a conditional or tightly linked two-clause relation without an overt connective. Common uses imply that if the first action does not occur, the second will not occur either, or that someone refuses to stop until a standard is met. The two negated parts must form a recoverable logical dependency.
Published August 4, 2026
Reviewed August 4, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
不 + Clause A + 不 + Clause B
Read the structure
The condensed frame 不…不… compresses a conditional or tightly linked two-clause relation without an overt connective. Common uses imply that if the first action does not occur, the second will not occur either, or that someone refuses to stop until a standard is met. The two negated parts must form a recoverable logical dependency. Keep the model 不 + Clause A + 不 + Clause B visible while you compare each sentence.
你不问，我不说。
If you do not ask, I will not say.
Choose the right context
Compress a negative condition and its consequence. State refusal to stop before a goal is reached. Present two obligatorily linked negative actions in parallel.
问题不解决，我们不离开。
We will not leave unless the problem is solved.
Respect the boundary
Do not scramble the subject and first negator. Do not place the second negator inside the standard it governs. Do not use the frame when the two parts have no recoverable logical link.
不你问，我不说。
(Not you ask, I not say.)
Repair the pattern
The first negator precedes its subject: The subject 你 precedes the first negated predicate 不问. The second negator splits its predicate: The second 不 must introduce the complete predicate 休息 rather than split that word.
你不问，我不说。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
你不问，我不说。
If you do not ask, I will not say.
你
不
This part occupies the 不 position in the model pattern.
不问
Clause A
This part occupies the Clause A position in the model pattern.
，
不
This part occupies the 不 position in the model pattern.
我不
Clause B
This part occupies the Clause B position in the model pattern.
说
不
This part occupies the 不 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
你不问，我不说。
If you do not ask, I will not say.
问题不解决，我们不离开。
We will not leave unless the problem is solved.
她不达到标准不休息。
She will not rest until she meets the standard.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Compress a negative condition and its consequence.
- State refusal to stop before a goal is reached.
- Present two obligatorily linked negative actions in parallel.
Do not use it when
- Do not scramble the subject and first negator.
- Do not place the second negator inside the standard it governs.
- Do not use the frame when the two parts have no recoverable logical link.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
不你问，我不说。
你不问，我不说。
The first negator precedes its subject
The subject 你 precedes the first negated predicate 不问.
她不达到标准休不息。
她不达到标准不休息。
The second negator splits its predicate
The second 不 must introduce the complete predicate 休息 rather than split that word.
不你问，我不说。
The subject 你 precedes the first negated predicate 不问.
她不达到标准休不息。
The second 不 must introduce the complete predicate 休息 rather than split that word.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 不……不……紧缩复句.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 不……不……紧缩复句. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Condensed Complex Sentences with 不……不…… Questions
Is every sentence with two 不 forms this construction?
No. The two parts must create a compressed conditional, goal-dependent, or similarly tight logical relation.
Is this the same as 不A不B?
No. 不A不B is often a compact balanced phrase, while this lesson concerns two clause-like parts and their dependency.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六53】, PDF p. 241 (printed p. 235)
Places 不…不… condensed complex sentences at Level 6 with conditional and goal-dependent examples.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: 复句类型与紧缩复句, slide 64
Lists 不…不… among compressed complex-sentence forms whose clause relations are compacted without ordinary connectives.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
不A不BBalanced Antonym Frame 不A不B
Repeated 不 balances compact lexical slots there but links clause-like dependencies here.
Compare
爱A不A爱A不A: Whether You Do It or Not
爱A不A presents an indifferent choice, unlike a negative condition and consequence.
Easy to confuse
无A无BExhaustive Absence with 无A无B
Formal repeated 无 inventories absent properties rather than compressing a clause relation.
Continue learning
一…就The 一...就... Structure
Compare compressed dependency with an explicit condition and consequence marked by 一…就….
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Easy to confuse
Repeated 不 balances compact lexical slots there but links clause-like dependencies here.