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

X着也是X着 for “Might as Well”

Use 闲着也是闲着 to say a situation is going nowhere anyway, so you might as well do something useful.

Pattern

verb + 着也是 + verb + 着，（不如 / 就）……

X着也是X着 says a state isn’t doing any good as it is, so you might as well do something with it.

闲着也是闲着，我来帮你做饭吧。

When to use X着也是X着 for “Might as Well”

Take a verb or adjective that describes a lasting state (闲, 等, 空, 放, 坐), add 着, and say it twice around 也是: 闲着也是闲着. Literally “being idle is just being idle,” it means “staying like this gets us nothing.”

等着也是等着，我们先看会儿书吧。

We’re just waiting anyway, so let’s read for a while.

那间房空着也是空着，你就住下吧。

That room is empty anyway, so just stay here.

这辆自行车放着也是放着，借给你骑吧。

This bike is just sitting there anyway, so I’ll lend it to you.

坐着也是坐着，不如我们一起把教室打扫一下。

We’re just sitting here anyway, so let’s clean the classroom together.

Common traps

  • Use the same verb with 着 in both halves: 闲着也是闲着.
  • Follow it with a suggestion or decision; on its own it sounds unfinished.
  • Choose verbs for a lasting state (闲, 等, 空, 放), not one-off actions like 买 or 到.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

等着也是 ，我们先看会儿书吧

We’re just waiting anyway, so let’s read for a while
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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