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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 5 min read

Keeping Things Apart with X是X，Y是Y

Use X是X，Y是Y to say two things are separate and shouldn’t be mixed, as in 工作是工作，生活是生活.

Pattern

X是X，Y是Y (+ comment such as 不能放在一起)

Say each thing twice around 是 to draw a line between them: 朋友是朋友，钱是钱.

朋友是朋友，钱是钱，借了要还。

When to use Keeping Things Apart with X是X，Y是Y

X是X，Y是Y says that two things are different and must be kept apart: 工作是工作，生活是生活 “work is work, life is life”. Say each word twice, once on each side of 是, and put the two halves side by side with a comma. A comment usually follows to say what not to do, such as 不能放在一起 or 要分开.

学习是学习，玩儿是玩儿，别放在一起。

Study is study and play is play; don’t mix them.

你是你，我是我，我们的想法不一样。

You’re you and I’m me; we see things differently.

考试是考试，比赛是比赛，这两件事不能比。

An exam is one thing and a competition is another; you can’t compare them.

这次是这次，下次是下次，别太难过。

This time is this time, and next time is a fresh start. Don’t be too upset.

Common traps

  • Keep 是 in both halves: 学习是学习，玩儿是玩儿, not 学习是学习，玩儿玩儿.
  • Pair the halves with a comma, not with 和: 工作是工作，生活是生活, not 工作和生活是工作和生活.
  • For “nice, but too expensive” use one half plus 就是: 好看是好看，就是太贵了, not 好看是好看，贵是贵.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我 昨天来的

It was yesterday that I came. Emphasize when
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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