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HSK 6 Special structures (把 · 被 · 是…的 · 让)

不无 …

Not without (some) (不无)

Structure 不无 + disyllabic abstract noun (不无道理 / 不无遗憾 / 不无关系)

不无 (bù wú) is a literary, lexicalised litotes: the double negative "not without" makes a guarded, understated assertion. 他的话不无道理 = "what he says is not without reason", i.e. "there's something to it", said cautiously. It is followed by a disyllabic abstract noun (道理 reason, 遗憾 regret, 益处 benefit, 关系 connection) and appears mainly in essays and commentary, when the writer wants to concede a point without fully committing. It is distinctly written; in everyday speech one would say 有点道理 or 有一定道理.

Examples

  • depíngdàozhímenfǎn

    His criticism is not without merit and warrants our reflection.

  • méinéngjiànzuìhòumiànzhìjīnhàn

    Not having been able to see him one last time still leaves me with some regret.

  • zhèxiàngzhèngdechūtáidāngshídejīngxíngshìguān

    The introduction of this policy was not unrelated to the economic climate of the time.

  • shìdeduìchéngzhǎngchù

    Moderate pressure is not without its benefits for growth.

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