不…不… (unless… not / neither… nor)

Structure 不 + A，不 + B（condition→consequence or double requirement）

不…不… (bù… bù…) is a condensed correlative frame, typical of proverbs and slogans. It has two readings depending on the content. (1) Condition-consequence: the first 不 means "if not A", the second "then not B" (不破不立 = "without destroying, there is no building"; 不见不散 = "we won't leave until we meet", lit. "if we don't meet, we don't part"). (2) Coordinated double negative: "neither A nor B", two qualities rejected at once (不卑不亢 = "neither servile nor arrogant"). The frame's force lies in its symmetry and brevity: two matching syllables bracketed by 不.

Examples

不bù破pò不bù立lì，先xiān要yào打dǎ破pò旧jiù的de。
Without tearing down there is no building up: first the old must be broken.
我wǒ们men六liù点diǎn见jiàn，不bù见jiàn不bù散sàn。
Let's meet at six, and no one leaves until we do.
待dài人rén要yào不bù卑bēi不bù亢kàng。
One should treat people neither servilely nor arrogantly.
面miàn对duì强qiáng权quán，他tā始shǐ终zhōng不bù卑bēi不bù亢kàng。
In the face of power, he remained neither servile nor arrogant.

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