Learn how to express “both…and…” in Chinese using the 又…又… pattern to describe dual qualities or characteristics
1 Basic 又…又… Pattern
The 又…又… structure is used in Chinese to express that something or someone possesses two qualities or characteristics simultaneously. It translates to “both…and…” in English.
This pattern is commonly used with adjectives (stative verbs) to describe dual characteristics of a subject.
First Quality
Second Quality
Basic Pattern Examples
Key Grammar Points
又…又… describes two characteristics that exist at the same time:
Not used for sequential actions (use 先…然后… for that).
The adjectives can be positive, negative, or mixed:
2 Structure Variations and Usage
The 又…又… pattern can be used with various types of words and phrases, not just simple adjectives. It can connect adjectives, verb phrases, and even short clauses.
好 (hǎo)
Both good-looking and practical
贵 (guì)
Both expensive and not tasty
聪明 (cōngmíng)
Both smart and cute
远 (yuǎn)
Both far and hard to find
好吃 (hǎochī)
Both delicious and healthy
有趣 (yǒuqù)
Both interesting and useful
Subject Placement
The Subject comes at the beginning of the sentence:
又 (yòu) Function
The word 又 (yòu) means “again” in other contexts, but in this structure it functions as a conjunction meaning “both…and…”:
Adjective Types
Various types of adjectives can be used:
Negative Forms
Negative adjectives can be formed with 不 (bù):
3 又…又… + 可是… Pattern
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4 Usage Notes and Patterns
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Practice Exercises
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