half… not…; semi…; neither here nor there
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesprefix
half… not…; neither one thing nor the other
informalA four-character pattern where the first and third characters are filled with the same verb or adjective. It often expresses a state that is unsatisfying, incomplete, or poorly defined, carrying a negative or contemptuous connotation.
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
bàn半
míng明
bù不
àn暗
de的
，
ràng让
rén人
cāi猜
bú不
tòu透
。
He always speaks in half-veiled terms, making it hard to guess his meaning.
Zhè这
jiàn件
yī衣
fu服
bàn半
xīn新
bù不
jiù旧
de的
，
bié别
chuān穿
le了
。
This piece of clothing is neither new nor old; don't wear it.
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Mǐ米
fàn饭
zhǔ煮
dé得
bàn半
shēng生
bù不
shú熟
，
gēn根
běn本
méi没
fǎ法
chī吃
。
The rice is cooked half-raw, completely inedible.
Nà那
zhī只
māo猫
bèi被
chē车
zhuàng撞
le了
，
xiàn现
zài在
bàn半
sǐ死
bù不
huó活
de的
。
That cat was hit by a car and is now half-dead.
Tā他
duì对
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
de的
tài态
dù度
bàn半
tuī推
bù不
jiù就
de的
，
yī一
diǎn点
yě也
bù不
gān干
cuì脆
。
His attitude toward this matter is half-hearted and indecisive.