不即不离 bù jí bù lí

DEFINITIONS

  1. to be neither too familiar nor too distant
  2. to keep sb at arm's length

CHARACTERS

不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
即 jí
HSK 4
promptly, quickly, immediately
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
离 lí
HSK 2
rare beast; strange; elegant