HSK 5
什么X不X（的）
shén me X bù X （ de ）
The structure '什么X不X（的）' expressing unimportance
Explanation
什么X不X（的）is an emphatic frame used to brush something off, holding that the matter X is not worth worrying about. 什么 (shénme) here is not for asking questions but carries a dismissive nuance; X is a noun/adjective denoting the thing being treated as unimportant (钱 = money, 麻烦 = trouble, 合适 = suitable).
什么 + X + 不 + X + (的). The character 的 (de) at the end may or may not appear; adding it sounds more natural and intimate in colloquial speech.
When you want to gently refute, waving away the other person's politeness or worry (they're afraid of spending money, of being a bother, of it not being suitable) and affirming that it is not a problem. This is a colloquial, intimate way of speaking.
X in the two positions must be the SAME word, repeated identically (什么钱不钱的, you don't say 什么钱不贵的). Here 什么 is NOT used to ask a question, so do not add a question mark. Do not mistake this pattern for a real question; it always carries the meaning "it doesn't matter".
Examples
Money, what money? You're being far too polite saying that.
Trouble? What trouble? Between us there's no need to be so polite.
Suitable or not, what does it matter? As long as the clothes can be worn, it's fine.
Practice
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Learn “什么X不X（的）” effectively
The grammar point “什么X不X（的）” (The structure '什么X不X（的）' expressing unimportance) is one of the key structures at HSK 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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