<p>Yes, that's fairly normal. In fact the actual construct here is merely <strong><code>... 都不 ...</code></strong>. </p>

<p>It is somewhat more commonly seen with the character <code>連</code> ("even") prefixed, i.e. <code>连痒都不痒一下</code>. Similarly, the counter <code>一下</code> ("once") at the end is optional, i.e. <code>痒都不痒</code>. All three forms express the same meaning of "<em>not even once / not at all</em>".</p>

<p>Taking all three into account: <code>(optional: 連) [verb] 都不 [same verb] (optional: [single counter for action])</code></p>

<p>Note that the counter <strong>does NOT have to be <code>一下</code></strong>. So while any number of verbs can be used with this construct way, you should take note to use the appropriate counter for the action. Or alternatively, don't use any at all. Examples:</p>

<ul>
<li><code>連吃都不吃一口</code>: S/he/they wouldn't even take one bite (<code>一口</code>, lit. "one mouthful").</li>
<li><code>連看都不看一眼</code>: S/he/they wouldn't even look once (<code>一眼</code>, "one look").</li>
<li><code>想都不想</code>: Without thinking.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-21T07:36:50.073Z
2014-07-21T07:55:28.120Z
2014-07-21T07:55:28.120Z
Semaphore
<p>Of course "X" can be a verb, e.g. "叫都不叫一下" (... you can google for this phrase).</p>

<p>BTW, in Cantonese, we have "仙都唔仙吓" == "don't even have a penny" == "no money"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-21T07:38:11.877Z
2014-07-21T07:38:11.877Z
Henry HO
<p>It appears to be combining the "X 都不 X" form with "一下".</p>

<p>"X 都不 X" roughly means "won't even X". For example: 看都不看 (won't even look).</p>

<p>Adding "一下" to the end of a verb simply means "once". So the combination would be "won't even X, not even once". The limitation is that "一下" must make sense for the verb; for example with the aforementioned 看都不看, it would be better as 看都不看一眼 (although 看都不看一下 is passable, informally).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-21T07:31:35.990Z
2014-07-21T07:31:35.990Z
congusbongus
<p>I've come across the following construct recently:</p>

<p>X 都不 X 一下</p>

<p>Specifically what I heard was:</p>

<p>痒都不痒一下</p>

<p>(Bonus points to anyone who knows where that comes from...)</p>

<p>Is this a mandarin construct?</p>

<p>Can X be replaced with any verb?</p>

<mandarin>
Construct: X都不X一下, Mandarin?
# Construct: X都不X一下, Mandarin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-21)

I've come across the following construct recently:

X 都不 X 一下

Specifically what I heard was:

痒都不痒一下

(Bonus points to anyone who knows where that comes from...)

Is this a mandarin construct?

Can X be replaced with any verb?

**Tags:** mandarin


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-21. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Yes, that's fairly normal. In fact the actual construct here is merely **`... 都不 ...`**.

It is somewhat more commonly seen with the character `連` ("even") prefixed, i.e. `连痒都不痒一下`. Similarly, the counter `一下` ("once") at the end is optional, i.e. `痒都不痒`. All three forms express the same meaning of "*not even once / not at all*".

Taking all three into account: `(optional: 連) [verb] 都不 [same verb] (optional: [single counter for action])`

Note that the counter **does NOT have to be `一下`**. So while any number of verbs can be used with this construct way, you should take note to use the appropriate counter for the action. Or alternatively, don't use any at all. Examples:

* `連吃都不吃一口`: S/he/they wouldn't even take one bite (`一口`, lit. "one mouthful").
* `連看都不看一眼`: S/he/they wouldn't even look once (`一眼`, "one look").
* `想都不想`: Without thinking.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-21. Score: 2

Of course "X" can be a verb, e.g. "叫都不叫一下" (... you can google for this phrase).

BTW, in Cantonese, we have "仙都唔仙吓" == "don't even have a penny" == "no money"


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-07-21. Score: 2

It appears to be combining the "X 都不 X" form with "一下".

"X 都不 X" roughly means "won't even X". For example: 看都不看 (won't even look).

Adding "一下" to the end of a verb simply means "once". So the combination would be "won't even X, not even once". The limitation is that "一下" must make sense for the verb; for example with the aforementioned 看都不看, it would be better as 看都不看一眼 (although 看都不看一下 is passable, informally).


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