HSK 7

X也好/也罢,Y也好/也罢

X yě hǎo / yě bà , Y yě hǎo / yě bà

The structure 'X也好/也罢, Y也好/也罢'

Explanation

X也好/也罢,Y也好/也罢 (X yěhǎo/yěbà, Y yěhǎo/yěbà) is a fixed colloquial pattern (口语格式 - a template used in speech), used to enumerate two (or more) situations that are usually opposing, implying that whatever the case, the result is the same, roughly translated 'whether... or..., ... all the same'.

Structure

X + 也好/也罢 + ,Y + 也好/也罢 + (a concluding clause, often with 都 / 反正 / 终究 - dōu / fǎnzhèng / zhōngjiū meaning 'all/anyway/in the end'); X and Y can be verbs, adjectives, or pronouns.

When to use

in speech, when wanting to show a dismissive attitude, considering that any choice makes no difference.

Distinguish

也好 (yěhǎo) and 也罢 (yěbà) are interchangeable, but 也罢 carries a clearer nuance of resignation or giving up, whereas 也好 is more neutral.

Common mistakes

using 也好/也罢 in only one clause while forgetting to repeat it in the other; and forgetting the general concluding clause afterward (this template needs the wrap-up part 'all the same...').

Examples

去也好,不去也好,反正不是什么大不了的事。
hǎohǎofǎnzhèngshìshénmeliǎodeshì

Going is fine, not going is fine; either way it's nothing to make a fuss about.

快乐也好,伤心也好,这个故事就要结束了。
kuàihǎoshāngxīnhǎozhègeshijiùyàojiéshùle

Happy or sad, this story is about to end.

你也罢,我也罢,都帮不了什么忙。
dōubāngliǎoshénmemáng

You or me, neither of us can be of any help.

喜欢也罢,愤怒也罢,终究都是一种情绪。
huanfènzhōngjiūdōushìzhǒngqíng

Whether it's fondness or fury, in the end it is all just an emotion.

Practice

Test your understanding with a quick quiz

Learn “X也好/也罢,Y也好/也罢” effectively

The grammar point “X也好/也罢,Y也好/也罢” (The structure 'X也好/也罢, Y也好/也罢') is one of the key structures at HSK 7. 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.

You can also view the full “” lesson to understand the related grammar and vocabulary more deeply.

Frequently asked questions