Signification
Something unremarkable or average.
Contexte culturel
In Russia, being 'average' is often viewed more negatively than in Western cultures. There is a linguistic preference for strong emotional stances. The phrase was frequently used to describe the 'grey' quality of life and goods during periods of stagnation (Zastoy). Classic authors like Gogol and Chekhov used this phrase to describe 'superfluous men'—characters who couldn't find their place in society. On Russian review sites like Otzovik or Kinopoisk, this phrase is a standard way to give a 3-star review.
The 'Meh' Rule
Use this phrase when you want to sound like a local who is slightly bored by something.
No Commas!
Even if your grammar checker tells you to add a comma, don't do it. It's an idiom.
Signification
Something unremarkable or average.
The 'Meh' Rule
Use this phrase when you want to sound like a local who is slightly bored by something.
No Commas!
Even if your grammar checker tells you to add a comma, don't do it. It's an idiom.
Person vs. Thing
Use 'ни рыба ни мясо' for a boring person and 'ни то ни сё' for a boring movie or meal.
Intonation Matters
Say it with a slight shrug of the shoulders to get the full effect.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct form of the phrase to complete the sentence.
Вчера я ходил в кино, но фильм мне не понравился. Он был какой-то ________.
The correct idiom is 'ни то ни сё' without a comma and with the particle 'ни'.
Match the situation to the most likely use of 'ни то ни сё'.
Which situation best fits the phrase?
'Ни то ни сё' is used for mediocre, unremarkable things.
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Погода сегодня странная: и не дождь, и не солнце — просто ни ___ ни ___.
The phrase is 'ни то ни сё'.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
— Как тебе новый ресторан? — Честно говоря, ________. Дорого, а еда обычная.
The context of 'expensive but ordinary' perfectly matches 'ни то ни сё'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesВчера я ходил в кино, но фильм мне не понравился. Он был какой-то ________.
The correct idiom is 'ни то ни сё' without a comma and with the particle 'ни'.
Which situation best fits the phrase?
'Ни то ни сё' is used for mediocre, unremarkable things.
Погода сегодня странная: и не дождь, и не солнце — просто ни ___ ни ___.
The phrase is 'ни то ни сё'.
— Как тебе новый ресторан? — Честно говоря, ________. Дорого, а еда обычная.
The context of 'expensive but ordinary' perfectly matches 'ни то ни сё'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt can be slightly dismissive. If you say it about a gift someone gave you, it's rude. If you say it about a movie, it's just an opinion.
No, it's too informal. Use 'посредственный' or 'неоднозначный' instead.
In Russian, fixed idiomatic expressions with repeating conjunctions (ни...ни, и...и) do not take a comma.
It's an archaic form of 'это' (this). You only see it in a few idioms today.
No, the order is fixed. It must be 'ни то ни сё'.
Very similar, but 'ни то ни сё' implies something is vague or undefined, while 'так себе' just means low quality.
Yes, but 'ни рыба ни мясо' is more common for describing a person's character.
Add 'было': 'Всё было ни то ни сё'.
Yes, it is universally understood across Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Central Asia.
Not really. If something is good, you'd say 'то, что надо' (exactly what's needed).
Expressions liées
ни рыба ни мясо
synonymNeither fish nor meat
так себе
similarSo-so
ни свет ни заря
builds onNeither light nor dawn (very early)
ни бе ни ме
similarCan't say 'ba' or 'ma'
средней паршивости
synonymOf average manginess
