不
bù
No, not
不 (bù) — might as well, no reason not to
不 (bù) + Verb + 白 (bái) + 不 (bù) + Verb
HSK 53.0
Pattern diagram
不Verb白不Verb
Rule structure
不 (bù)X白不 (bái bù)X is a colloquial argument for taking an opportunity: declining it would be a pointless loss. 白 (bái) means “in vain, pointlessly.” Both halves use the same verb: 不喝白不喝 (bù hē bái bù hē), literally “not drink — pointlessly not drink.”
Rule structure
不 (bù)X白不 (bái bù)X is a colloquial argument for taking an opportunity: declining it would be a pointless loss. 白 (bái) means “in vain, pointlessly.” Both halves use the same verb: 不喝白不喝 (bù hē bái bù hē), literally “not drink — pointlessly not drink.”
Examples
今天饮料免费，不喝白不喝。
Jīntiān yǐnliào miǎnfèi, bù hē bái bù hē.
Drinks are free today — it would be a shame not to have one.
Examples
今天饮料免费，不喝白不喝。
Jīntiān yǐnliào miǎnfèi, bù hē bái bù hē.
Drinks are free today — it would be a shame not to have one.
Try this rule
Two short exercises: see how the rule works in a dialogue and in a sentence. No sign-up needed.
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “might as well, no reason not to” in Chinese with 不?
Use the structure: 不 (bù) + Verb + 白 (bái) + 不 (bù) + Verb. For example: 今天饮料免费，不喝白不喝。 — “Drinks are free today — it would be a shame not to have one”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
今天饮料免费，不喝白不喝。 — “Drinks are free today — it would be a shame not to have one”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 5.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 3.0 Level 5 grammar rules
不得了 — oh no, an extreme situation
不得了 (bùdéliǎo)! (+ Situation)
着 — while doing, something happened
Verb (A) + 着 (zhe) + Verb (A) + 着 (zhe), ...
没 — paired absence with 没A没B
没 (méi) + A + 没 (méi) + B
说 — doing it at once: 说A就A
说 (shuō) + Verb (A) + 就 (jiù) + Verb (A)
用不着 — no need to
Subject + 用不着 (yòngbuzháo) + Verb/Noun
的 — different people doing different things
A + 的 (de) + A，B + 的 (de) + B
是它 — whether it's good or bad
X + 是 (shì) + 它 (tā)，Y + 也 (yě) + 是 (shì) + 它 (tā)
着 — since we are doing it anyway
X + 着 (zhe) + 也是 (yě shì) + X + 着 (zhe)