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HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min read

非A非B for “Neither A Nor B”

Use 非亲非故 and 非驴非马 to say something is neither one thing nor the other.

Pattern

非 + A + 非 + B (A and B are related one-syllable nouns)

非A非B is a formal “neither A nor B”: 非亲非故 means “not related and not old friends,” and 非驴非马 means “neither one thing nor the other.”

我们非亲非故，她却愿意花一下午帮我搬家。

When to use 非A非B for “Neither A Nor B”

非 is the formal, written word for “not” (like 不是). 非A非B puts it before two related one-syllable nouns: “not A, and not B either.” 非亲非故 is “not a relative (亲), not an old friend (故)”: two people have no connection. 非驴非马 is “not a donkey, not a horse”: something that tries to be two things and ends up as neither.

这个设计既不像传统的，也不像现代的，有点非驴非马。

This design is neither traditional nor modern; it’s a bit of an awkward mix.

我和他非亲非故，他为什么要帮我？

He and I have no connection at all. Why would he help me?

她和这家人非亲非故，却照顾了老人十年。

She has no family ties to them at all, yet she looked after their elderly grandmother for ten years.

我们只是在火车上认识的，非亲非故，他却一路照顾我。

We only met on the train and had no connection, yet he looked after me the whole way.

Common traps

  • 非A非B means “neither … nor”; 非A即B means “either … or.” Don’t mix them up.
  • 非 is formal; in everyday speech say 不是…也不是….
  • Use these as set phrases: 非亲非故 and 非驴非马, not new combinations you invent.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

她和这家人非亲非 ，却照顾了老人十年

She has no family ties to them at all, yet she looked after their elderly grandmother for ten years
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