Definition
可有可无 is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally means 'can have or can not have'. It describes something that is not essential, dispensable, or of little importance — you can take it or leave it. Use it to talk about items, roles, or opinions that are not crucial to the overall situation.
f.e.
dispensablenot essentialoptional
Examples
- 可有可无，。Zhèxiē dōngxi duì wǒ lái shuō kě yǒu kě wú, mǎi bù mǎi dōu xíng.These things are dispensable to me; I can take them or leave them.
- ，，可有可无。Zài tuánduì zhōng, měi gè rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de zuòyòng, méiyǒu rén shì kě yǒu kě wú de.In a team, everyone has their own role; no one is dispensable.
- 可有可无，。Zhège guāndiǎn kě yǒu kě wú, bú shì wǒmen tǎolùn de zhòngdiǎn.This opinion is not essential; it's not the focus of our discussion.
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