HSK 6
早（也）不X，晚（也）不X
zǎo （ yě ） bù X ， wǎn （ yě ） bù X
The structure 'Not (even) X early, not (even) X late'
Explanation
This is a colloquial pattern (口语格式 kǒu yǔ gé shì — a structure used in speech) 早（也）不X，晚（也）不X, meaning "doesn't X early, doesn't X late," used to complain that something happens at exactly the wrong moment.
早（也）不 + verb X，晚（也）不 + verb X + (the second part stating the ironic timing). The character 也 (yě "also") can be added for emphasis. The second part often has 恰好 (qià hǎo "exactly at") or 却 (què "yet, of all things") to highlight the awkward coincidence.
早不来，晚不来，...他来了 = doesn't come early, doesn't come late, ...then he comes.
Used in conversation to express annoyance, exasperation, or sarcasm when something happens at exactly the most inconvenient moment.
Misunderstanding it literally as "doesn't do it both early and late"; in fact the whole phrase emphasizes "of all times, picks the worst moment to do it." The two X's must be the SAME verb in both halves (早不来...晚不来 both use 来), not replaced with a different verb.
Examples
He didn't come early, didn't come late — right when I was about to head out, he showed up.
He wouldn't leave early, wouldn't leave late — yet right when he was needed, he left.
Practice
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Learn “早（也）不X，晚（也）不X” effectively
The grammar point “早（也）不X，晚（也）不X” (The structure 'Not (even) X early, not (even) X late') is one of the key structures at HSK 6. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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