HSK 5
X着也是X着
X zhe yě shì X zhe
X着也是X着
Explanation
X着也是X着 is an emphatic frame meaning "staying in state X anyway serves no purpose," implying that one might as well do something more useful. 着 (zhe) is a particle (a function word added to express a grammatical meaning) indicating an ongoing state; X is a verb such as 闲 (xián = idle/free), 放 (fàng = leave lying around), 等 (děng = wait).
X着也是X着 (repeated identically twice), usually with 反正 (fǎnzhèng = anyway) before it and 不如 (bùrú = might as well) in the latter clause stating a suggestion.
When a state is dragging on pointlessly (being idle, things lying unused, having to wait) and you want to suggest making use of it to do something more worthwhile. This is a casual, colloquial way of speaking.
The two X parts must be the SAME word and identical (闲着也是闲着, not changed to 闲着也是忙着). Don't drop 着 in either part. Remember to include 反正/不如 to fully convey "might as well do something else."
Examples
Tomorrow I'll go for a stroll at the supermarket; I'm free anyway.
She doesn't like those clothes anymore; they're just sitting there, so she might as well give them away.
We have to wait anyway, so we might as well take a rest.
Practice
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Learn “X着也是X着” effectively
The grammar point “X着也是X着” (X着也是X着) 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.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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