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Expressing "double negation"

不

Grammar
HSK 3

Structure

Subj. + 不是 + 不 / 没 + Predicate Subj. + 不 + 会 / 能 / 可能 + 不 / 没 + Predicate (Topic +) 没有 + [Singular Noun] + 不 / 没 + Predicate + 的

Translations

  • says something is so by negating twice

Definition

双重否定是指在一个句子中使用两个否定词来表达肯定含义的语法现象。常见的结构有“不是不”、“不能不”、“不得不”等，通常用于强调、委婉或表达必要性。

Double negation is a grammatical phenomenon where two negative words are used in a sentence to express an affirmative meaning. Common structures include '不是不' (it's not that...not), '不能不' (cannot not), '不得不' (cannot but), etc., often used for emphasis, euphemism, or expressing necessity.

Usage

用于强调某个肯定的判断，或者表示一种被迫或无奈的情况。通常出现在书面语或正式口语中，可以增强语气或使表达更委婉。

Used to emphasize a positive statement, or to express a forced or unavoidable situation. It often appears in written or formal spoken language, strengthening the tone or making the expression more euphemistic.

Examples

  • 1 我不是不喜欢他，只是觉得我们性格不合。(It's not that I don't like him, I just think our personalities don't match.)
  • 2 为了完成任务，我们不得不加班到很晚。(To complete the task, we had no choice but to work late into the night.)
  • 3 你不得不承认，这个方案确实可行。(You have to admit that this plan is indeed feasible.)
  • 4 他并非不愿意帮忙，而是实在抽不出时间。(It's not that he is unwilling to help, but he really cannot spare the time.)
  • 5 这不能不引起我们的重视。(This cannot but draw our attention / This certainly deserves our attention.)
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