早
zǎo
Early
早不 (zǎo bù)X，晚不 (wǎn bù)X — why now?
早 (zǎo) + (也 (yě)) + 不 (bù) + X，晚 (wǎn) + (也 (yě)) + 不 (bù) + X
HSK 63.0
Pattern diagram
早也不Action，晚也不Action
pale — also possible
Rule structure
"早 (zǎo)（也 (yě)）不 (bù)X，晚 (wǎn)（也 (yě)）不 (bù)X" expresses a complaint: the action happened neither earlier nor later, but exactly at an inconvenient moment. Both halves use the same verb X. 也 (yě) is optional and does not change the meaning.
Rule structure
"早 (zǎo)（也 (yě)）不 (bù)X，晚 (wǎn)（也 (yě)）不 (bù)X" expresses a complaint: the action happened neither earlier nor later, but exactly at an inconvenient moment. Both halves use the same verb X. 也 (yě) is optional and does not change the meaning.
Examples
早不来，晚不来，你怎么这时候来？
Zǎo bù lái, wǎn bù lái, nǐ zěnme zhè shíhou lái?
You could have come earlier or later — why show up right now?
Examples
早不来，晚不来，你怎么这时候来？
Zǎo bù lái, wǎn bù lái, nǐ zěnme zhè shíhou lái?
You could have come earlier or later — why show up right now?
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “why now?” in Chinese with 早不X，晚不X?
Use the structure: 早 (zǎo) + (也 (yě)) + 不 (bù) + X，晚 (wǎn) + (也 (yě)) + 不 (bù) + X. For example: 早不来，晚不来，你怎么这时候来？ — “You could have come earlier or later — why show up right now?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
早不来，晚不来，你怎么这时候来？ — “You could have come earlier or later — why show up right now?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 6.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 6 grammar rules
算了 vs 得了 — closing a discussion
算了 (suàn le): close the topic / 得了 (dé le): cut the other person off
到 — up to, until
到 (dào) + Time/Limit + 为止 (wéizhǐ)
那倒是 — that's true
那 (nà) + 倒 (dào) + (也 (yě)) + 是 (shì)
这 那 — this and that
Verb + 这 (zhè) + Verb + 那 (nà)
放着 — leaving something unused
放着 (fàngzhe) + X + 不 (bù) + Y
不 — not until you do, then…
不 (bù) + X + 不 (bù) + Result₁，一 (yī) + X + (就 (jiù)) + Result₂
好你个 — expressive address, mock reproach
好 (hǎo) + 你 (nǐ) + 个 (ge) + X (person)
到 — reaching someone personally
X (action/problem) + 到 (dào) + Y (person) + 头上来了 (tóu shang lái le)