Four-Character Fixed Patterns: 或A或B, 无A无B, A这A那, 左A右B
Four-character fixed patterns repeat or pair words into a set frame of four characters. They include 或A或B (either A or B), 无A无B (neither A nor B), A这A那 (this and that) and 左A右B (one thing after another).
In English
Four-character patterns reuse a template with two slots. 或A或B offers two options of the same kind: 或早或晚 (sooner or later). 无A无B says both are absent: 无依无靠 (with nobody to rely on).
A这A那 repeats a verb to describe scattered activity: 问这问那 (asking about this and that). 左A右B repeats a verb to show an action done again and again: 左思右想 (thinking it over and over). The templates are productive, but most of what native speakers say is a known idiom, so learn them as units.
无A无B = 'without A or B at all' — total absence: 无忧无虑 (carefree), 无穷无尽 (endless).
A这A那 = reduplicated verb + 这/那, describing scattered, unfocused activity across many things: 问这问那 (asking about this and that), 说这说那 (chattering about this and that).
左A右B = reduplicated verb + 左/右, describing repeated/thorough action: 左思右想 (mulling it over repeatedly), 左顾右盼 (looking all around repeatedly).
All four are productive templates — A and B slots can take new same-category characters, not just memorized fixed phrases.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这次比赛的结果或早或晚都会公布。 | Zhè cì bǐ sài de jié guǒ huò zǎo huò wǎn dōu huì gōng bù. | The result of this competition will be announced sooner or later. | Minimal 或A或B frame: hedges between two time possibilities (早/晚) of the same category |
| 孩子们在公园里无忧无虑地玩耍。 | Hái zi men zài gōng yuán lǐ wú yōu wú lǜ de wán shuǎ. | The children played carefree in the park. | 无A无B frame: total absence of both 忧 (worry) and 虑 (anxiety), used adverbially with 地 |
| 他一进门就问这问那，好像很好奇。 | Tā yí jìn mén jiù wèn zhè wèn nà, hǎo xiàng hěn hào qí. | As soon as he came in, he started asking about this and that — he seemed very curious. | A这A那 frame: the verb 问 repeats before 这 and 那, describing scattered questioning |
| 她左思右想，还是决定接受这份工作。 | Tā zuǒ sī yòu xiǎng, hái shì jué dìng jiē shòu zhè fèn gōng zuò. | She mulled it over from every angle, and still decided to accept the job. | 左A右B frame: the verb concept (思考/想) splits into 左思 and 右想, showing repeated deliberation |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
或…或… (huò…huò)
Offers two opposite or alternative choices of one kind, hedging between them.
Structure: 或 + A + 或 + B
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这件事或多或少会影响到我们。 | Zhè jiàn shì huò duō huò shǎo huì yǐng xiǎng dào wǒ men. | This will affect us more or less. |
| 周末他或看书，或听音乐，过得很安静。 | Zhōu mò tā huò kàn shū, huò tīng yīn yuè, guò de hěn ān jìng. | At weekends he reads or listens to music and lives quietly. |
| 这些树或高或矮，长得各不相同。 | Zhè xiē shù huò gāo huò ǎi, zhǎng de gè bù xiāng tóng. | These trees are tall or short, each different. |
Not: 这些树或高矮。 Both halves need 或: 或高或矮.
无…无… (wú…wú)
Says that two things are both absent; the pair is usually a fixed idiom.
Structure: 无 + A + 无 + B
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他一个人在外地，无依无靠，生活很艰难。 | Tā yí ge rén zài wài dì, wú yī wú kào, shēng huó hěn jiān nán. | Alone in another city with nobody to rely on, his life is hard. |
| 她无声无息地离开了这座城市。 | Tā wú shēng wú xī de lí kāi le zhè zuò chéng shì. | She left the city without a sound. |
| 这里的草原无边无际，一眼望不到头。 | Zhè lǐ de cǎo yuán wú biān wú jì, yì yǎn wàng bu dào tóu. | The grassland here is boundless, you cannot see the end of it. |
Not: 他无依靠无朋友。 The pattern needs 无 before each of two single characters, as in 无依无靠.
A这A那 (zhè…nà)
Repeats a verb with 这 and 那 to say someone does or asks about this and that, in a scattered way.
Structure: V + 这 + V + 那
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 她一进商店就看这看那，什么也没买。 | Tā yí jìn shāng diàn jiù kàn zhè kàn nà, shén me yě méi mǎi. | She looked at this and that in the shop and bought nothing. |
| 别总是说这说那，快点做事吧。 | Bié zǒng shì shuō zhè shuō nà, kuài diǎn zuò shì ba. | Stop talking about this and that and get on with the work. |
| 孩子在屋里翻这翻那，把东西弄得很乱。 | Hái zi zài wū lǐ fān zhè fān nà, bǎ dōng xi nòng de hěn luàn. | The child rummaged through everything in the room and made a mess. |
Not: 他问这那。 The verb repeats: 问这问那.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, set phrases (四字格).
左A右B (zuǒ…yòu)
Repeats a verb with 左 and 右 to say an action was done again and again.
Structure: 左 + V + 右 + V
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我左找右找，还是没找到钥匙。 | Wǒ zuǒ zhǎo yòu zhǎo, hái shi méi zhǎo dào yào shi. | I searched everywhere and still could not find the key. |
| 她左看右看，总觉得哪里不对。 | Tā zuǒ kàn yòu kàn, zǒng jué de nǎ lǐ bú duì. | She looked it over and over and felt something was off. |
| 他左劝右劝，朋友终于答应了。 | Tā zuǒ quàn yòu quàn, péng you zhōng yú dā ying le. | After much persuading, his friend finally agreed. |
Not: 他左想右，还是不明白。 The verb must appear twice: 左想右想.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, set phrases (四字格).
Compared side by side: 或多或少 vs 多多少少.
What this opens up
These patterns list Four-Character Fixed Patterns among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Four-Character Fixed Patterns
What does 四字格固定短语 (Four-Character Fixed Patterns) mean in Chinese?
Four-character fixed patterns repeat or pair words into a set frame of four characters. They include 或A或B (either A or B), 无A无B (neither A nor B), A这A那 (this and that) and 左A右B (one thing after another). It is an HSK 6 grammar point.
How do you use 四字格固定短语 (Four-Character Fixed Patterns) in a sentence?
这次比赛的结果或早或晚都会公布。 — Zhè cì bǐ sài de jié guǒ huò zǎo huò wǎn dōu huì gōng bù. — The result of this competition will be announced sooner or later. Minimal 或A或B frame: hedges between two time possibilities (早/晚) of the same category.
Where does 四字格固定短语 (Four-Character Fixed Patterns) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 6, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 四字格固定短语 (Four-Character Fixed Patterns) lead to?
Fixed Formats (HSK 6). Each of them names 四字格固定短语 (Four-Character Fixed Patterns) among its own prerequisites.
Do I have to memorise these four patterns as fixed phrases?
The idioms are fixed (无忧无虑, 左思右想), but the templates are productive. If you know 问这问那, you can say 说这说那 or 翻这翻那, as long as the verbs fit scattered action.
What is the difference between 或多或少 and 多多少少?
Both mean 'more or less'. 或多或少 is the more written one, while 多多少少 is spoken.
Four-Character Fixed Patterns is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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