这也不X，那也不Y in Chinese
这/那也不X，那/这也不Y
这也不X，那也不Y lists alternatives one after another and emphasizes that the speaker is dissatisfied with all of them. The demonstratives organize the alternatives, while 也不 scopes over each negative predicate. The two parts may be reversed without changing the basic construction meaning.
Published August 12, 2026
Reviewed August 12, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
这也不 X，那也不 Y
Read the structure
这也不X，那也不Y lists alternatives one after another and emphasizes that the speaker is dissatisfied with all of them. The demonstratives organize the alternatives, while 也不 scopes over each negative predicate. The two parts may be reversed without changing the basic construction meaning. Keep the model 这也不 X，那也不 Y visible while you compare each sentence.
这也不吃，那也不喝，身体怎么会好？
He eats neither this nor that; how can his health improve?
Choose the right context
Reject several alternatives in colloquial speech. Show dissatisfaction with a choice or proposal. Use 这 and 那 to present contrasting options.
那也不合适，这也不对，我真不知道怎么办。
That is not suitable and this is not right; I do not know what to do.
Respect the boundary
Do not use it as a neutral information question. Do not force 这 and 那 to refer to literal objects every time. Do not conclude that every possible option is logically exhausted.
这也不吃，那喝。
(This not eat, that drink.)
Repair the pattern
The second clause lacks 也不: The repeated 也不 marks the second alternative as part of the same dissatisfaction frame. The alternatives are expressed as a neutral question: 还是 asks for a choice, while the target construction rejects alternatives through parallel negation.
这也不吃，那也不喝。
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.
这也不吃，那也不喝，身体怎么会好？
He eats neither this nor that; how can his health improve?
这
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
也不
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
吃
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
，
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
那
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
也不
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
喝
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
，
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
身体
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
怎么
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
会
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y position in the model pattern.
好
这也不 X，那也不 Y
This part occupies the 这也不 X，那也不 Y 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.
这也不吃，那也不喝，身体怎么会好？
He eats neither this nor that; how can his health improve?
那也不合适，这也不对，我真不知道怎么办。
That is not suitable and this is not right; I do not know what to do.
这也不满意，那也不满意，大家很难合作。
They are dissatisfied with this and that, so cooperation is difficult.
这也不行，那也不行，只好重新计划。
Neither option works, so we have to plan again.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Reject several alternatives in colloquial speech.
- Show dissatisfaction with a choice or proposal.
- Use 这 and 那 to present contrasting options.
Do not use it when
- Do not use it as a neutral information question.
- Do not force 这 and 那 to refer to literal objects every time.
- Do not conclude that every possible option is logically exhausted.
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.
这也不吃，那喝。
这也不吃，那也不喝。
The second clause lacks 也不
The repeated 也不 marks the second alternative as part of the same dissatisfaction frame.
这还是那？
这也不行，那也不行。
The alternatives are expressed as a neutral question
还是 asks for a choice, while the target construction rejects alternatives through parallel negation.
这也不吃，那喝。
The repeated 也不 marks the second alternative as part of the same dissatisfaction frame.
这还是那？
还是 asks for a choice, while the target construction rejects alternatives through parallel negation.
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 这/那也不X，那/这也不Y.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 这/那也不X，那/这也不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
这也不X，那也不Y Questions
Can I swap 这 and 那?
Yes. 那也不X，这也不Y is a documented variant. The order organizes alternatives rather than fixing one permanent topic.
Does it always mean literal rejection?
It usually conveys dissatisfaction or difficulty choosing, but the exact force depends on the following context and intonation.
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 【六67】, PDF p. 242 (printed p. 236)
Lists 这/那也不X，那/这也不Y and gives examples of rejecting food, drink, suitability, and correctness.
Official source现代汉语构式数据库
北京大学中国语言学研究中心 · Peking University · 2021
Locator: Construction entry 这+也+不+X+，+那+也+不+Y
Defines the construction as a double-clause negative-evaluation pattern, records the swapped variant, and gives 这也不吃，那也不喝 as an example.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Continue learning
连…也/都…连...也/都... (lián...yě/dōu)
Continue from emphatic inclusion to the colloquial 这也不X那也不Y dissatisfaction frame.
Compare
再也不/没表示强调再也不／没 for Emphatic Non-occurrence
Contrast rejecting current alternatives with 再也不 or 再也没 marking non-repetition.
Learn first
都都 (dōu): Scope and Position
Review 都 scope before reading repeated 也不 as a range over alternatives.
Compare
不……也……不……也…… for Insistence Despite a Cost
Contrast rejecting alternatives with insisting that an action is unavoidable.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Continue from emphatic inclusion to the colloquial 这也不X那也不Y dissatisfaction frame.