The structures with the meaning "neither..., nor..."
Let’s go over the …也…不得，…也…不得 and …也不是，…也不是 structures.
The structure …也不是，…也不是
The structure …也不是，…也不是 
is used in situations where none of the specified actions that have been stated can be done.
The ellipsis are replaced with verbs. A subject is placed before this structure.
is used in situations where none of the specified actions that have been stated can be done.
The ellipsis are replaced with verbs. A subject is placed before this structure.Scheme
(subject)
verb 1
也不是
verb 2
也不是
Examples
坐也不是，站也不是
I can neither sit down, nor stand up
zuò yě bú shì, zhàn yě bú shì
留也不是，辞职也不是，不知道怎么办
I can neither stay, nor quit. I don’t know what to do
liú yě bú shì, cízhí yě bú shì, bù zhīdao zěnme bàn
他这样说，我生气也不是，骂人也不是
When he talks like that, I can neither be angry at him, nor scold him
tā zhèyàng shuō, wǒ shēngqì yě bú shì, mà rén yě bú shì
Pay attention
Remember the set expression: 左也不是，右也不是
We can use the same verbs in the structure. In this case, we use the first verb in its affirmative form, and the second verb — in its negative form.
Pay attention
The negative determiner 不 is placed before the second verb.
is placed before the second verb.Scheme
subject
verb
(也)不是
不
verb
也不是
Pay attention
The first 也 is often omitted.
Examples
走不是，不走也不是，弄得我们不知道怎么办才好
We can neither leave, nor stay. We don’t know what to do
zǒu bú shì, bù zǒu yě bú shì, nòng de wǒmen bù zhīdao zěnme bàn cái hǎo
生气不是，不生气也不是，都是没有用
It doesn’t matter whether you are angry or not. It’s pointless
笑也不是，不笑也不是，真让人尴尬
I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help it. It is so embarrassing
xiào yě bú shì, bù xiào yě bú shì, zhēn ràng rén gāngà
The structure …也…不得，…也…不得
The structure …也…不得，…也…不得 is used to express the impossibility of performing any of the actions that have been stated.
is used to express the impossibility of performing any of the actions that have been stated.Scheme
verb 1
也
verb 1
不得
verb 2
也
verb 2
不得
Examples
头疼的时候，站也站不得，坐也坐不得
When I have a headache, I can neither stand nor sit
tóu téng de shíhou, wǒ zhàn yě zhàn bùdé, zuò yě zuò bùdé
他们太调皮了，但是骂也骂不得，打也打不得
They are so naughty. But I can neither scold them, nor slap them
tāmen tài tiáopí le, dànshì mà yě mà bùdé, dǎ yě dǎ bùdé