HSK 6
放着X不Y
fàng zhe X bù Y
The structure '放着X不Y'
Explanation
This is the colloquial structure (used in speech) "放着X不Y" (fàng zhe X bù Y), describing someone who has a good thing X available yet does not make use of it, and instead does something Y that is less sensible, carrying a nuance of reproach or regret.
放着 (fàng zhe) + X (a good condition/opportunity) + 不 (bù) + Y (an unreasonable alternative action) → "having a good X but refusing it, and going to do Y instead".
放着好日子不过 (fàng zhe hǎo rì zi bù guò, having a good life but refusing to live it).
when criticizing or being surprised at someone's unwise choice — giving up a good thing they already have to do something worse. It often goes with 非要 (fēi yào, insist on) or 别 (bié, don't) to heighten the nuance.
Vietnamese learners often drop the character 着 (zhe) after 放, or place 不 in the wrong spot. Remember the fixed frame is 放着...不... : X is the good thing being wasted, Y is the verb for the alternative action being done; you cannot swap X and Y.
Examples
You'd better not refuse a good life just to make trouble for yourself here.
He has a decent education but refuses to study, insisting on running off to work as a laborer outside.
Practice
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Learn “放着X不Y” effectively
The grammar point “放着X不Y” (The structure '放着X不Y') 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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