未免 and 无非: rather too, nothing more than

未免 is 'that's rather too much', a mild reproach about what someone does: 未免太贵了，未免太自信了. 无非 is 'nothing more than', it takes the drama out: 争论的无非是钱. Don't mix them up: 未免 criticizes the degree, 无非 shrugs at the essence. 未免 usually goes before 太 + an adjective, but it can also sit right before the predicate: 未免不近人情; 无非 goes before 是 or a verb phrase.

Examples

• 在证据尚未核实之前就公开指责对方，未免太草率了。 Zài zhèngjù shàng wèi héshí zhīqián jiù gōngkāi zhǐzé duìfāng, wèimiǎn tài cǎoshuài le. Publicly accusing the other side before the evidence has been verified is rather rash.
• 孩子的要求无非是买个玩具，别太当回事。 Háizi de yāoqiú wúfēi shì mǎi gè wánjù, bié tài dāng huíshì. The child is simply asking for a toy; don't take it too seriously.
• 这个价格未免太贵了。 Zhège jiàgé wèimiǎn tài guì le. This price is a bit too steep.

More in this chapter

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