不
bù
No, not
不 (bù)A而 (ér)B — result without the usual action
不 (bù) + A + 而 (ér) + B
HSK 7–93.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what不Action而Action
Rule structure
不 (bù)A而 (ér)B is a literary four-character pattern: B happens without the preceding A. It often appears in set expressions such as 不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng) (without prior agreement, yet alike) and 不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò) (to gain without working).
Rule structure
不 (bù)A而 (ér)B is a literary four-character pattern: B happens without the preceding A. It often appears in set expressions such as 不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng) (without prior agreement, yet alike) and 不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò) (to gain without working).
Examples
他们不约而同地笑了。
Tāmen bùyuē-értóng de xiào le.
They laughed in unison without having arranged it.
Examples
他们不约而同地笑了。
Tāmen bùyuē-értóng de xiào le.
They laughed in unison without having arranged it.
Try this rule
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Words from this rule
而
ér
And, but, while
他们
tā men
They
约
yuē
Approximately; to make an appointment
同
tóng
Same; together; with, and
地
de
Adverb suffix
笑
xiào
To laugh, to smile; smile
了
le
Particle (completed action or change of state)
真
zhēn
True, real, really, indeed
让
ràng
To let, to ask, to make someone do something
人生
rén shēng
Human life, life
气
qì
Air, gas; to be angry
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “result without the usual action” in Chinese with 不A而B?
Use the structure: 不 (bù) + A + 而 (ér) + B. For example: 他们不约而同地笑了。 — “They laughed in unison without having arranged it”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他们不约而同地笑了。 — “They laughed in unison without having arranged it”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
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More HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9 grammar rules
动不动 就 — at the slightest thing, just
Subj. + 动不动 (dòngbudòng) 就 (jiù) + Verb
仅次于 — second only to
Subj. + 仅次于 (jǐn cì yú) + X
个 — casual small action
Verb + 个 (ge) + Noun
除外 — except for, excluding
Noun + 除外 (chúwài)
不亚于 — no worse than
Subject + 不亚于 (bú yà yú) + Noun
可不 — enthusiastic agreement
可不 (kě bu) / 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) — a standalone confirming reply
说到哪儿去了 — polite reply to praise
说到哪儿去了 (shuō dào nǎr qù le) — a standalone polite reply
非 — neither A nor B
非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. A + 非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. B