Expressing the only two possibilities

To describe a situation as being one of only two possibilities, you can use this structure:

Structure

不是 + A, 就是 + B

This is like saying "if it's not A, then it's B" in English. A and B can be verbs, adjectives or nouns.

Examples

• 他 整天 不 是 打游戏 就 是 睡觉。
• 他们 约会 不是 去 咖啡馆 就是 去 电影院。
• 我 买 的 衣服 不是 大 就是 小，都 不 能 穿。
• 她 穿 的 衣服 不是 LV 就是 Gucci！

See also

• "Not… But Rather…" with "er shi"
• Expressing "either ... or ..." with "yaome"
• Providing two options with double "huozhe"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 84) →buy

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