न x न (n x n)
pattern
This is the correlative frame न (n) ... न (n) ... used to negate two alternatives at once, roughly 'neither X nor Y'; each slot is filled by whatever is being denied.
Sense
1
:
neither...nor... (paired negation of two alternatives)
pattern The negator न (n) is simply repeated before each item being ruled out; the items can be nouns, verbs, or whole clauses, e.g. न चाय न कॉफ़ी (n chaay n kofii, 'neither tea nor coffee') or न वह आया न मैं गया (n vah aayaa n main gayaa, 'neither did he come nor did I go').
Synonyms: न...और न...(n...aur n..., adds emphasis with 'and')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this pattern constantly in everyday complaints and refusals -- न पैसा है न वक़्त (n paisaa hai n vaqt, 'there's neither money nor time') is the kind of line every Delhi uncle has said at some point. It also survives inside the fixed idiom न घर का न घाट का (n ghar kaa n ghaat kaa, 'belonging neither to home nor to the riverbank' -- i.e. fitting in nowhere), which is worth recognizing even though it's a fossilized phrase rather than a live template use.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use नहीं (nahiin) in this frame instead of न (n) -- नहीं (nahiin) is the everyday negator for a single statement, but the paired न...न (n...n) frame specifically signals 'neither...nor' and sounds off if broken up with नहीं (nahiin). 2) Forgetting to repeat न (n) before the second item -- dropping it (न चाय कॉफ़ी) reads as incomplete or ungrammatical to a native ear.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे पास न पैसा है न वक़्त।
I have neither money nor time.
(mere paas n paisaa hai n vaqt।)
Listen: M85
वह न घर का है न घाट का।
He belongs neither here nor there (he fits in nowhere).
(vah n ghar kaa hai n ghaat kaa।)
Listen: F85
उस पार्टी में न खाना अच्छा था न माहौल।
At that party, neither the food nor the atmosphere was good.
(us paartii men n khaanaa achchhaa thaa n maahaul।)
Listen: F85
न वह कभी फ़ोन करता है न मिलने आता है।
He neither calls nor comes to meet me.
(n vah kabhii fon kartaa hai n milne aataa hai।)
Listen: F85
न मुझे डाँटो न बहाने बनाने दो, सीधे सच बताओ।
Neither scold me nor let there be excuses, just tell the truth directly.
(n mujhe daanto n bahaane banaane do, siidhe sach bataao।)
Listen: F85
अगर वह वक़्त पर पहुँचता, तो न झगड़ा होता न इतनी देर होती।
If he had arrived on time, there would have been neither a fight nor such a delay.
(agar vah vaqt par pahunchtaa, to n jhagdaa hotaa n itnii der hotii।)
Listen: F85
इस नौकरी में न तरक़्क़ी है न इज़्ज़त, फिर क्यों करूँ?
There is neither promotion nor respect in this job, so why should I do it?
(is naukrii men n taraqqii hai n izzat, phir kyon karoon?)
Listen: F85
माननीय सदस्यों को न सूचना दी गई न अनुमति ली गई।
The honorable members were neither informed nor was permission taken.
(maanniiy sadasyon ko n soochnaa dii gaii n anumti lii gaii।)
Listen: F85
न दिन को आराम मिलेगा न रात को नींद आएगी, ऐसा काम है यह।
There will be neither rest by day nor sleep by night, that's the kind of work this is.
(n din ko aaraam milegaa n raat ko niind aaegii, aisaa kaam hai yah।)
Listen: M85
न सुख का ठिकाना न दुख का, यही जीवन की रीत है।
Neither joy nor sorrow has a fixed abode -- such is the way of life.
(n sukh kaa thikaanaa n dukh kaa, yahii jiivan kii riit hai।)
Listen: M85
न वह पढ़ाई में मन लगा रहा है न खेल में, समझ नहीं आता क्या चाहता है।
He's neither focusing on studies nor on sports; I don't understand what he wants.
(n vah padhaaii men man lagaa rahaa hai n khel men, samajh nahiin aataa kyaa chaahtaa hai।)
Listen: M85