不是…就是… búshì…jiùshì…

不是…就是…（búshì…jiùshì…）means “if not... then...; either... or... (it must be one of the two)”. 不是…就是… states that the situation must be one of two things, with no third option. Formation: 不是+A+就是+B（二者必居其一）

if not... then...; either... or... (it must be one of the two)

HSK4

Formation

不是+A+就是+B（二者必居其一）

Explanation

不是…就是… states that the situation must be one of two things, with no third option. It often implies the alternatives keep recurring or that the speaker is a bit exasperated. The two slots are usually parallel nouns, verbs, or clauses.

Examples

他每天不是看书就是运动。
tā měitiān búshì kàn shū jiùshì yùndòng.
Every day he is either reading or exercising.
这几天不是刮风就是下雨。
zhè jǐ tiān búshì guāfēng jiùshì xiàyǔ.
These past few days, it's either windy or rainy.

Note

Implies only two possibilities; often conveys mild complaint or inevitability.

FAQ

不是…就是… — what does it mean and how is it used?

if not... then...; either... or... (it must be one of the two). 不是…就是… states that the situation must be one of two things, with no third option. It often implies the alternatives keep recurring or that the speaker is a bit exasperated. The two slots are usually parallel nouns, verbs, or clauses.

不是…就是… — how do you form it?

不是+A+就是+B（二者必居其一）

不是…就是… — any usage notes?

Implies only two possibilities; often conveys mild complaint or inevitability.

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