dàobù
道…不…
neither... nor...; used with antonyms to express an intermediate state
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesidiom structure
neither... nor...; indicates a state that is intermediate between two opposites
dialectA dialectal four-character pattern. The structure is "dao...bu...", where the two blanks are filled with monosyllabic adjectives that are antonyms (e.g., 长-短, 高-矮). It describes something that is neither one extreme nor the other, often implying an average, moderate, or indeterminate quality.
Zhè这
gēn根
gùn棍
zi子
dào道
cháng长
bù不
duǎn短
，
zhèng正
hǎo好
hé合
shì适
。
This stick is neither long nor short; it's just right.
Tā他
zhǎng长
de得
dào道
gāo高
bù不
ǎi矮
，
shēn身
cái材
hěn很
biāo标
zhǔn准
。
He's neither tall nor short; he has a very standard build.
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Zhè这
jiā家
diàn店
de的
bāo包
zi子
dào道
dà大
bù不
xiǎo小
，
fèn分
liàng量
gāng刚
hǎo好
。
The steamed buns at this shop are neither big nor small; the portion is just right.
Jīn今
tiān天
lái来
de的
rén人
dào道
duō多
bù不
shǎo少
，
qì气
fēn氛
hěn很
rè热
nao闹
。
The number of people who came today is neither many nor few; the atmosphere is very lively.
Zhè这
wǎn碗
tāng汤
dào道
xián咸
bù不
dàn淡
，
wèi味
dào道
zhèng正
hé合
shì适
。
This bowl of soup is neither salty nor bland; the taste is just right.