放着X不Y in Chinese
放着X不Y
放着X不Y criticizes or questions leaving an available resource, opportunity, or convenient option unused while choosing another action. 放着 presents the existing object or situation, and the following negative verb states the action not taken. The frame is evaluative and strongly context-dependent.
Published August 10, 2026
Reviewed August 10, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
放着 + Noun/Opportunity + 不 + Verb
Read the structure
放着X不Y criticizes or questions leaving an available resource, opportunity, or convenient option unused while choosing another action. 放着 presents the existing object or situation, and the following negative verb states the action not taken. The frame is evaluative and strongly context-dependent. Keep the model 放着 + Noun/Opportunity + 不 + Verb visible while you compare each sentence.
放着好好的工作不做，他偏要辞职。
He leaves a good job undone and insists on resigning.
Choose the right context
Point out that an available option is being left unused. Contrast an existing resource with an unnecessary alternative action. Use a following clause to explain the speaker's criticism or surprise.
放着现成的饭不吃，非要自己做。
There is ready-made food, yet he insists on cooking himself.
Respect the boundary
Do not use it for a neutral location description with 着. Do not omit the negative action after the available option. Do not treat every 放着 phrase as criticism without context.
放着不做好的工作。
(Leave not do good work.)
Repair the pattern
The available object is placed after the negative verb: 放着 introduces the available object first; 不 and the alternative action follow it. The negative predicate is incomplete: The frame requires 不 before the verb that names the unused action, not after an incomplete verb phrase.
放着好好的工作不做。
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.
放着好好的工作不做，他偏要辞职。
He leaves a good job undone and insists on resigning.
放
放着
This part occupies the 放着 position in the model pattern.
着
Noun/Opportunity
This part occupies the Noun/Opportunity position in the model pattern.
好好
不
This part occupies the 不 position in the model pattern.
的
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
工作
放着
This part occupies the 放着 position in the model pattern.
不做
Noun/Opportunity
This part occupies the Noun/Opportunity position in the model pattern.
，
不
This part occupies the 不 position in the model pattern.
他
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
偏要
放着
This part occupies the 放着 position in the model pattern.
辞职
Noun/Opportunity
This part occupies the Noun/Opportunity 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.
放着好好的工作不做，他偏要辞职。
He leaves a good job undone and insists on resigning.
放着现成的饭不吃，非要自己做。
There is ready-made food, yet he insists on cooking himself.
放着这么近的路不走，偏要绕远。
The road is so close, but he insists on taking a detour.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Point out that an available option is being left unused.
- Contrast an existing resource with an unnecessary alternative action.
- Use a following clause to explain the speaker's criticism or surprise.
Do not use it when
- Do not use it for a neutral location description with 着.
- Do not omit the negative action after the available option.
- Do not treat every 放着 phrase as criticism without context.
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.
放着不做好的工作。
放着好好的工作不做。
The available object is placed after the negative verb
放着 introduces the available object first; 不 and the alternative action follow it.
放着工作做不。
放着工作不做。
The negative predicate is incomplete
The frame requires 不 before the verb that names the unused action, not after an incomplete verb phrase.
放着不做好的工作。
放着 introduces the available object first; 不 and the alternative action follow it.
放着工作做不。
The frame requires 不 before the verb that names the unused action, not after an incomplete verb phrase.
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 放着X不Y.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 放着X不Y. 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
放着X不Y Questions
Is 放着 literal placement here?
It originates in a state description, but this fixed frame evaluates an available option that someone leaves unused. The following context supplies the criticism.
Does X have to be a physical object?
No. X can be a job, meal, road, opportunity, or other available option that the speaker treats as usable.
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 【六64】, PDF p. 242 (printed p. 236)
Lists 放着X不Y as a Level-6 fixed format.
Official source面向二语教学的现代汉语标记性构式研究
杨玉玲 · 北京：中国广播电视出版社 · 2016
Locator: Chapter 3, §9, pp. 103–112; contents entry for 放着N不V
Studies 放着N不V as a marked construction with available-option, evaluative, and discourse functions.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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放着Existential Sentences
Extend a literal placement state into an evaluative frame about an unused option.
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地点Place Word Placement
Compare the location-first placement reading with the fixed 放着X不Y discourse frame.
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在在 for Location and the Setting of an Action
Review 在 location phrases before distinguishing them from 放着 state descriptions.
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存现句表出现与消失Existential Sentences of Appearance and Disappearance
Connect the state frame with broader existence and appearance descriptions.
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