X也不是，Y也不是 / X也X不得，Y也Y不得: neither one nor the other
【五60】【五61】口语格式 / fixed patterns
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
Two spoken dilemma patterns built on two opposite verbs (or a verb and its negation): whatever you do, it is wrong.
X也不是，Y也不是 means "neither fits", you no longer know what attitude to take, often out of embarrassment: 哭也不是，笑也不是 (can neither cry nor laugh), 走也不是，留也不是, 管也不是，不管也不是.
X也X不得，Y也Y不得 means "can do neither". 不得 says what you must not or cannot allow yourself to do: 骂也骂不得，打也打不得. The verb is repeated before 不得, and 也 is required in each half. Do not confuse it with V不了, which is plain inability (动不了, "cannot move"): 不得 expresses prohibition.
They often follow a state complement with 得: 他急得站也不是，坐也不是. They describe a state, never give an order.
Examples
大家都在吵架，我走也不是，留也不是。
Dàjiā dōu zài chǎojià, wǒ zǒu yě bú shì, liú yě bú shì.Everyone was arguing and I didn't know whether to leave or stay.
他在大家面前提起我小时候闹的笑话，我哭也不是，笑也不是。
Tā zài dàjiā miànqián tíqǐ wǒ xiǎoshíhou nào de xiàohua, wǒ kū yě bú shì, xiào yě bú shì.He brought up my childhood blunders in front of everyone, and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
这个孩子还小，骂也骂不得，打也打不得。
Zhège háizi hái xiǎo, mà yě mà bu de, dǎ yě dǎ bu de.The child is still small: you can neither scold him nor smack him.
病人刚做完手术，吃也吃不得，动也动不得。
Bìngrén gāng zuòwán shǒushù, chī yě chī bu de, dòng yě dòng bu de.The patient has just had surgery: he must neither eat nor move.
帮他吧，老板会不高兴；不帮吧，朋友又会失望。我管也不是，不管也不是。
Bāng tā ba, lǎobǎn huì bù gāoxìng; bù bāng ba, péngyou yòu huì shīwàng. Wǒ guǎn yě bú shì, bù guǎn yě bú shì.If I help him, my boss will be unhappy; if I don't, my friend will be let down. Whether I step in or not, it's wrong.
他急得站也不是，坐也不是，不停地看手机。
Tā jí de zhàn yě bú shì, zuò yě bú shì, bùtíng de kàn shǒujī.He was so anxious he could neither stand nor sit still, checking his phone nonstop.
Common mistakes
✗ 哭不是，笑不是 → ✓ 哭也不是，笑也不是 (也 is required in each half).
✗ 站也不得，坐也不得 → ✓ 站也站不得，坐也坐不得 (the verb is repeated before 不得).
✗ 手术后吃也吃不了，动也动不了 → ✓ 手术后吃也吃不得，动也动不得 (for a prohibition: 不了 only says you cannot manage it, 不得 says it is not allowed).