X也不是，Y也不是 in Chinese
X也不是，Y也不是
The formula X也不是，Y也不是 presents two incompatible actions or states and says that neither is a workable response. It commonly follows an emotional or evaluative context, such as not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Each clause repeats 也不是 to keep the two alternatives balanced.
Published August 11, 2026
Reviewed August 11, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
X 也不是，Y 也不是
Read the structure
The formula X也不是，Y也不是 presents two incompatible actions or states and says that neither is a workable response. It commonly follows an emotional or evaluative context, such as not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Each clause repeats 也不是 to keep the two alternatives balanced. Keep the model X 也不是，Y 也不是 visible while you compare each sentence.
哭也不是，笑也不是，真不知道怎么办。
Neither crying nor laughing seems right; I do not know what to do.
Choose the right context
Show that two opposite responses are both unsuitable. Describe an awkward state with balanced alternatives. Repeat 也不是 before each alternative for parallel emphasis.
坐也不是，站也不是，他紧张极了。
He was so nervous that neither sitting nor standing felt right.
Respect the boundary
Do not use it as a neutral either-or question. Do not omit the second 也不是 in the balanced formula. Do not assume the two alternatives are logically exhaustive in every context.
哭也不是，笑。
(Crying is not, laughing.)
Repair the pattern
The second alternative lacks 也不是: The paired formula repeats 也不是 before the second alternative to maintain balanced negation. The two clauses are turned into a neutral question: This construction states that both responses are unsuitable; a neutral choice question uses 还是 without the paired negation frame.
哭也不是，笑也不是。
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.
哭也不是，笑也不是，真不知道怎么办。
Neither crying nor laughing seems right; I do not know what to do.
哭
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
也不是
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
，
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
笑
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
也不是
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
，
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
真
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
不知道
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
怎么
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 position in the model pattern.
办
X 也不是，Y 也不是
This part occupies the X 也不是，Y 也不是 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.
哭也不是，笑也不是，真不知道怎么办。
Neither crying nor laughing seems right; I do not know what to do.
坐也不是，站也不是，他紧张极了。
He was so nervous that neither sitting nor standing felt right.
走也不是，留也不是，大家都很为难。
Neither leaving nor staying works, so everyone is troubled.
说也不是，不说也不是，她只好沉默。
Neither speaking nor staying silent feels right, so she keeps quiet.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Show that two opposite responses are both unsuitable.
- Describe an awkward state with balanced alternatives.
- Repeat 也不是 before each alternative for parallel emphasis.
Do not use it when
- Do not use it as a neutral either-or question.
- Do not omit the second 也不是 in the balanced formula.
- Do not assume the two alternatives are logically exhaustive in every 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.
哭也不是，笑。
哭也不是，笑也不是。
The second alternative lacks 也不是
The paired formula repeats 也不是 before the second alternative to maintain balanced negation.
哭还是笑也不是？
哭也不是，笑也不是。
The two clauses are turned into a neutral question
This construction states that both responses are unsuitable; a neutral choice question uses 还是 without the paired negation frame.
哭也不是，笑。
The paired formula repeats 也不是 before the second alternative to maintain balanced negation.
哭还是笑也不是？
This construction states that both responses are unsuitable; a neutral choice question uses 还是 without the paired negation frame.
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 X也不是，Y也不是.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with X也不是，Y也不是. 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
X也不是，Y也不是 Questions
Does it mean both actions are impossible?
It usually means neither response is appropriate or satisfactory in the context. The speaker's predicament, not a universal logical impossibility, supplies the evaluation.
Can the alternatives contain longer phrases?
Yes. X and Y can be verb phrases or short clauses, but each side should remain parallel enough for the repeated 也不是 frame to be clear.
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 5 item 【五60】, PDF p. 231 (printed p. 225)
Lists X也不是，Y也不是 and gives 哭也不是、笑也不是 and 坐也不是、站也不是 examples.
Official source对外汉语口语教学语法大纲的构建
徐晶凝 · 《语言教学与研究》 · 2016
Locator: §2.1.2, PDF pp. 4–5, parallel negative formulas
Describes balanced spoken formulas in which repeated negation presents two alternatives as equally unsuitable in context.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Continue learning
X（也）不是，不X也不是X也不是，不X也不是 for a Dilemma
Continue from the longer negative alternative pattern to the balanced X也不是 formula.
Compare
不A不BBalanced Antonym Frame 不A不B
Contrast paired 也不是 evaluation with balanced 不A不B alternatives.
Compare
（没）有什么（好）X的有什么（好）X的 Rhetorical Frame
Contrast two unsuitable actions with the rhetorical question of what is worth doing.
Easy to confuse
什么X的Y的什么X的Y的 for a Vague Dismissive List
Separate balanced negative alternatives from open-ended 什么X的 listing.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Continue from the longer negative alternative pattern to the balanced X也不是 formula.