Using 'Both... and...' with 又...又... (yòu...yòu...)
又...又... to link two matching qualities or actions that happen simultaneously for one subject.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '又...又...' to describe two simultaneous qualities or actions of the same subject.
- Place '又' before each adjective or verb: {他又|tā yòu} {高|gāo} {又|yòu} {帅|shuài}.
- Only use this for positive or neutral descriptions, not for mixed negative/positive traits.
- The subject always comes before the first '又'.
Overview
Have you ever tried to describe your favorite bubble tea but felt like one adjective just wasn't enough? Maybe it’s sweet. But it’s also ice-cold.
Or perhaps you’re looking at a new apartment that is both expensive and tiny (the classic city struggle). In Chinese, when you want to stack two qualities together to create a "double whammy" effect, you reach for the 又...又... (yòu...yòu...) pattern. It’s the ultimate "both...
and..." connector for your daily life. Whether you’re raving about a 好听 (good-sounding) and 好看 (good-looking) K-pop idol or complaining that your Wi-Fi is 慢 (slow) and 贵 (expensive), this rule is your best friend. It’s simple, rhythmic, and makes you sound much more natural than just stringing words together with "and." Think of it as the grammar version of a "Buy One Get One Free" deal—you get two descriptions for the price of one sentence structure.
This pattern is one of the first "connectors" you’ll learn in Chinese because it is incredibly versatile. It allows you to link two adjectives or two verb phrases to describe a single subject. The key thing to remember is that these two qualities are happening at the same time.
You aren't saying something is A and then later it becomes B. You are saying it is A and B simultaneously. It’s like a multitasker’s favorite grammar point.
You’ll see this everywhere: in Instagram captions, on restaurant menus, and in heated debates about which smartphone brand is better. In a world where we are all trying to be "both productive and relaxed" (usually failing at the latter), 又...又... captures that complexity perfectly. It’s a foundational A1-level skill that transitions you from speaking in robotic, single-word sentences to creating more descriptive, flowy thoughts.
How This Grammar Works
又...又... is all about balance. You take a subject, drop the first 又, add your first quality, drop the second 又, and add the second quality. It’s like a pair of bookends holding your adjectives in place.- Adjectives: This is the most common use.
又 大 又 红(both big and red). - Verbs: You can use it with verbs that describe a state or a feeling.
又 想 哭 又 想 笑(both want to cry and want to laugh). - The Golden Rule of Vibes: You generally cannot mix a positive quality with a negative one. You can be "both tall and handsome" or "both short and ugly," but saying someone is "both beautiful and mean" using this specific pattern sounds very weird to a native ear. It’s like trying to wear a tuxedo with flip-flops—the vibes just don't match. Keep your adjectives in the same "mood" category. If you’re praising something, use two praises. If you’re roasting something, use two roasts.
Formation Pattern
我 - I/Me).
又: This signals the start of your "both" list.
又: This signals the "and" part.
这个 西瓜 又 大 又 甜。 | This watermelon is both big and sweet.
她 又 跑 又 跳。 | She is both running and jumping.
我 又 没 钱 又 没 时间。 | I have neither money nor time.
又 as a person with their arms reaching out to grab two things at once. One arm grabs the first adjective, the other arm grabs the second. Double the arms, double the adjectives!
When To Use It
- Shopping/Reviews: When you’re looking at products on Taobao or Amazon. "这 件 衣服 又 便宜 又 舒服。" (These clothes are both cheap and comfortable).
- Dating/People: Describing that person you matched with on Tantan or Tinder. "他 又 高 又 帅。" (He is both tall and handsome).
- Work/Study: Complaining about your workload. "作业 又 多 又 难。" (Homework is both a lot and difficult).
- Food Vlogging: "这 个 火锅 又 麻 又 辣！" (This hotpot is both numbing and spicy!).
- Speaker A:
你 觉得 这家 咖啡店 怎么样？(What do you think of this cafe?) - Speaker B:
挺好 的，咖啡 又 香 又 浓。(Quite good, the coffee is both fragrant and strong.)
- Speaker A:
你的 新 手机 好用 吗？(Is your new phone easy to use?) - Speaker B:
不 好用，又 卡 又 重。(Not really, it's both laggy and heavy.)
Common Mistakes
- The Positive-Negative Clash: As mentioned, avoid mixing "good" and "bad."
- ✗
她 又 漂亮 又 笨。(She is both pretty and stupid.) -> This sounds contradictory. Use但是(but) instead. - Using Nouns Alone: You can't just put nouns after
又. - ✗
我 又 猫 又 狗。(I both cat and dog.) -> You need a verb like有(have). - ✓
我 又 有 猫 又 有 狗。(I have both cats and dogs.) - The "Too Many Adjectives" Trap: While you can technically string more than two, it starts to sound like a grocery list. Stick to two for that punchy, balanced feel. If you have three, just use two sentences. Your listeners' brains will thank you.
- Missing the second
又: Sometimes beginners forget the second one. "他 又 高 帅" sounds like you ran out of battery mid-sentence. Always finish the pair!
Contrast With Similar Patterns
又...又... instead of other connectors?又...又...vs.一边...一边...:一边(yībiān) is strictly for actions being done simultaneously by the same person (e.g., eating while watching TV).又...又...is for qualities or states. You can't be "both tall and handsome" using一边because being tall isn't an action you are performing.又...又...vs.和:和(hé) is mostly for connecting nouns (me and you, coffee and tea). You generally don't use和to connect two adjectives in Chinese. You wouldn't say "高 和 帅." It sounds very "Google Translate-y." Use又...又...to link those adjectives properly.又...又...vs.而且:而且(érqiě) means "moreover" or "furthermore." It’s used to add a second point that is perhaps more important or surprising.又...又...treats both qualities as equal partners in the description.
Quick FAQ
Can I use this with three things?
You can, but it’s less common. Usually, we stick to two. If you must use three, it's 又...又...还....
Does it work for negative things?
Absolutely! In fact, we use it for complaining all the time. "又 累 又 渴" (both tired and thirsty) is a classic Friday afternoon mood.
Is it okay for formal writing?
Yes, it’s grammatically standard. However, in very high-level literature, authors might use four-character idioms (Chengyu) instead to sound fancy. But for 99% of your life, 又...又... is perfect.
Can I use it for colors?
Yes! "又 黑 又 亮" (both black and shiny) is great for describing a new car or a cat's fur.
What if I want to say "both A and B" but they are nouns?
Use 既 ... 也 ... or simply 和. 又...又... is the adjective king.
Basic Structure Table
| Subject | Connector 1 | Attribute/Verb | Connector 2 | Attribute/Verb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
他
|
又
|
高
|
又
|
帅
|
||
|
这
|
又
|
大
|
又
|
甜
|
||
|
她
|
又
|
会
|
唱
|
又
|
会
|
跳
|
|
天气
|
又
|
冷
|
又
|
雨
|
||
|
衣服
|
又
|
便宜
|
又
|
好看
|
||
|
书
|
又
|
新
|
又
|
好
|
Meanings
This structure connects two adjectives or verbs to indicate that a subject possesses both qualities or performs both actions simultaneously.
Dual Adjectives
Describing two qualities of a noun.
“{他|tā} {又|yòu} {聪明|cōngmíng} {又|yòu} {努力|nǔlì}.”
“{天气|tiānqì} {又|yòu} {冷|lěng} {又|yòu} {下雨|xiàyǔ}.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + 又 + A + 又 + B
|
他又高又帅
|
|
Verb-based
|
Subj + 又 + V1 + 又 + V2
|
他又唱又跳
|
|
Adjective-based
|
Subj + 又 + Adj1 + 又 + Adj2
|
这又大又甜
|
|
Past Tense
|
Subj + 又 + A + 又 + B + 了
|
昨天又冷又下雨了
|
|
Future Tense
|
Subj + 要 + 又 + A + 又 + B
|
明天要又热又干
|
|
Question
|
Subj + 是不是 + 又 + A + 又 + B?
|
他是不是又高又帅?
|
Formality Spectrum
房间既宽敞又整洁。 (Describing a hotel room.)
房间又大又干净。 (Describing a hotel room.)
房间又大又干净！ (Describing a hotel room.)
房间又大又干净，超赞。 (Describing a hotel room.)
The '又...又...' Concept Map
Usage
- 描述 Describe
- 并列 Parallel
Constraints
- 同类 Same type
- 积极 Positive
又...又... vs 不但...而且...
Examples by Level
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {菜|cài} {又|yòu} {辣|là} {又|yòu} {咸|xián}.
This dish is both spicy and salty.
{他|tā} {又|yòu} {高|gāo} {又|yòu} {帅|shuài}.
He is both tall and handsome.
{天气|tiānqì} {又|yòu} {冷|lěng} {又|yòu} {下雨|xiàyǔ}.
The weather is both cold and raining.
{这|zhè} {家|jiā} {店|diàn} {又|yòu} {大|dà} {又|yòu} {干净|gānjìng}.
This shop is both big and clean.
{她|tā} {又|yòu} {会|huì} {跳舞|tiàowǔ} {又|yòu} {会|huì} {唱歌|chànggē}.
She can both dance and sing.
{这|zhè} {本|běn} {书|shū} {又|yòu} {有意思|yǒuyìsi} {又|yòu} {便宜|piányí}.
This book is both interesting and cheap.
{他|tā} {又|yòu} {聪明|cōngmíng} {又|yòu} {努力|nǔlì}.
He is both smart and hardworking.
{这|zhè} {条|tiáo} {路|lù} {又|yòu} {长|cháng} {又|yòu} {难|nán} {走|zǒu}.
This road is both long and difficult to walk.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {计划|jìhuà} {又|yòu} {省|shěng} {钱|qián} {又|yòu} {省|shěng} {时间|shíjiān}.
This plan is both money-saving and time-saving.
{他|tā} {又|yòu} {想|xiǎng} {去|qù} {旅游|lǚyóu} {又|yòu} {想|xiǎng} {在|zài} {家|jiā} {休息|xiūxi}.
He both wants to travel and wants to rest at home.
{这|zhè} {款|kuǎn} {手机|shǒujī} {又|yòu} {轻|qīng} {又|yòu} {快|kuài}.
This phone model is both light and fast.
{她|tā} {又|yòu} {温柔|wēnróu} {又|yòu} {大方|dàfāng}.
She is both gentle and generous.
{这|zhè} {项|xiàng} {技术|jìshù} {又|yòu} {先进|xiānjìn} {又|yòu} {实用|shíyòng}.
This technology is both advanced and practical.
{他|tā} {的|de} {演讲|yǎnjiǎng} {又|yòu} {生动|shēngdòng} {又|yòu} {深刻|shēnkè}.
His speech was both vivid and profound.
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {水果|shuǐguǒ} {又|yòu} {多汁|duōzhī} {又|yòu} {营养|yíngyǎng}.
This fruit is both juicy and nutritious.
{这|zhè} {座|zuò} {城市|chéngshì} {又|yòu} {古老|gǔlǎo} {又|yòu} {现代|xiàndài}.
This city is both ancient and modern.
{他|tā} {的|de} {性格|xìnggé} {又|yòu} {内敛|nèiliǎn} {又|yòu} {坚定|jiāndìng}.
His personality is both reserved and firm.
{这|zhè} {部|bù} {电影|diànyǐng} {又|yòu} {荒诞|huāngdàn} {又|yòu} {真实|zhēnshí}.
This movie is both absurd and realistic.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {政策|zhèngcè} {又|yòu} {灵活|línghuó} {又|yòu} {严谨|yánjǐn}.
This policy is both flexible and rigorous.
{他|tā} {的|de} {文章|wénzhāng} {又|yòu} {优美|yōuměi} {又|yòu} {有力|yǒulì}.
His writing is both elegant and powerful.
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {艺术|yìshù} {风格|fēnggé} {又|yòu} {古典|gǔdiǎn} {又|yòu} {先锋|xiānfēng}.
This art style is both classical and avant-garde.
{他|tā} {的|de} {处事|chǔshì} {方式|fāngshì} {又|yòu} {圆滑|yuánhuá} {又|yòu} {果断|guǒduàn}.
His way of handling things is both tactful and decisive.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {理论|lǐlùn} {又|yòu} {抽象|chōuxiàng} {又|yòu} {具体|jùtǐ}.
This theory is both abstract and concrete.
{他|tā} {的|de} {表演|biǎoyǎn} {又|yòu} {夸张|kuāzhāng} {又|yòu} {细腻|xìnì}.
His performance is both exaggerated and delicate.
Easily Confused
Both connect two ideas.
Very similar to 又...又...
Both use '就' or '又'.
Common Mistakes
他又高，帅。
他又高又帅。
又他高又帅。
他又高又帅。
他又高又矮。
他既高又壮。
他又高又很帅。
他又高又帅。
他又高又很聪明。
他又高又聪明。
这又大又很贵。
这又大又贵。
他又会唱歌又跳舞。
他又会唱歌又会跳舞。
他不但又高又帅。
他不但高，而且帅。
这又好又坏。
这既有优点又有缺点。
他又想去又不想去。
他既想去又犹豫。
这又先进又很实用。
这又先进又实用。
他既又高又帅。
他既高又帅。
这又好又很坏。
这既有长处又有短处。
Sentence Patterns
他 ___ ___ ___ ___。
这 ___ ___ ___ ___。
天气 ___ ___ ___ ___。
这个计划 ___ ___ ___ ___。
Real World Usage
这件衣服又便宜又好看！
他今天又迟到又没带书。
我既有经验又很努力。
这家的菜又辣又香。
这个地方又美又安静。
该理论既抽象又具体。
Keep it balanced
Avoid negative traits
Use for verbs too
Native rhythm
Smart Tips
Use '又...又...' to make your description sound balanced.
Use it to describe the taste.
Combine two weather conditions.
Highlight two benefits.
Pronunciation
Tone of '又'
又 is 4th tone (yòu).
Balanced
又 [A] 又 [B] ↗
Rising intonation on the second part to show enthusiasm.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '又' as a 'plus' sign. You are adding two traits together.
Visual Association
Imagine a person holding two balloons, one in each hand. Each balloon is a trait (e.g., 'tall' and 'handsome').
Rhyme
又 A 又 B，两样东西在一起。
Story
Xiao Ming is a superhero. He is '又快又强' (fast and strong). He runs to the store, which is '又远又大' (far and big). He buys a fruit that is '又甜又红' (sweet and red).
Word Web
Challenge
Describe three things in your room using the '又...又...' pattern in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Very common in daily speech to praise someone.
Similar usage, often used in casual conversation.
Used in daily life, often mixed with Singlish.
The character '又' originally meant 'hand' and evolved to mean 'again' or 'also'.
Conversation Starters
你觉得这顿饭怎么样？
你的好朋友是什么样的人？
你理想中的城市是什么样的？
你如何评价这个新产品？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
他 ___ 高 ___ 帅。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他又高，帅。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
It is both big and sweet.
Answer starts with: a...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: 这家店怎么样? B: ___.
Use 又...又... with '聪明' and '努力'.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises他 ___ 高 ___ 帅。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他又高，帅。
又/他/帅/又/高
It is both big and sweet.
Match the traits.
A: 这家店怎么样? B: ___.
Use 又...又... with '聪明' and '努力'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises{又|yòu} / {苹果|píngguǒ} / {又|yòu} / {大|dà} / {这些|zhèxiē} / {红|hóng}
The homework is both much and difficult.
Match the pairs:
Which one is correct?
{这个|zhège} {包|bāo} {又|yòu} ___ {又|yòu} ___。
{他|tā} {又|yòu} {聪明|cōngming} {和|hé} {帅|shuài}。
{今天|jīntiān} ___ {冷|lěng} ___ {刮风|guāfēng}。
Both fragrant and tasty.
Pick the correct negative description:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It's better to avoid it. Use other structures for negative traits.
Yes, '他又唱又跳' is perfect.
Usually not necessary, keep it simple.
It's neutral and very common in daily life.
Use '不但...而且...' or just list them.
Yes, but '既...又...' is more formal.
Always at the very beginning.
Because the two parts are balanced.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
tanto... como...
Spanish requires agreement in gender/number.
à la fois... et...
French is more verbose.
sowohl... als auch...
German is more rigid in syntax.
〜も〜も
Japanese particles are placed after the word.
كلا... و...
Arabic is highly inflected.
既...又...
Register is the main difference.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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As Soon As... Then... (一...就...)
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