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HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 5 min read

这也不X，那也不Y for “Nothing Is Good Enough”

Use 这也不X，那也不Y to complain that someone rejects one thing after another.

Pattern

（subject +）这也不 + X，那也不 + Y

这也不……，那也不…… means “not this, not that either”: someone turns everything down, and the speaker is usually a bit annoyed.

你这也不吃，那也不吃，怎么能长高呢？

When to use 这也不X，那也不Y for “Nothing Is Good Enough”

这 and 那 here do not point at two real objects. Together they mean “this thing, that thing, everything.” 也不 after each one says that every choice gets rejected.

他这也不喜欢，那也不喜欢，真难给他买礼物。

He doesn’t like this or that. It’s really hard to buy him a present.

这也不行，那也不行，你到底想去哪儿？

This won’t do, that won’t do. Where on earth do you want to go?

妈妈这也不让我做，那也不让我做，周末一点儿意思都没有。

Mom won’t let me do this or that. The weekend is no fun at all.

小朋友在超市里这也想买，那也想买。

In the supermarket, the little kid wants to buy this and that and everything.

Common traps

  • Use 也 after both 这 and 那: 这也不吃，那也不吃.
  • Use 这 and 那, not 哪: 哪也不吃 is wrong.
  • 这 and 那 here mean “everything,” not two specific things.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

小朋友在超市里这也想买， 也想买

In the supermarket, the little kid wants to buy this and that and everything
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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