Both...and...: 又……又……
又……又……
Describe something with two simultaneous qualities using 又……又……
又……又…… connects two adjectives or verbs to express that something possesses both qualities at the same time. It means "both...and..."
The two qualities can be both positive, both negative, or a mix. They must apply to the same subject simultaneously.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Both...and...: 又……又…… (又……又……)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 又……又…… pattern
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Understanding 又……又……
When you want to say something has two qualities at once, 又……又…… is your go-to pattern. It is like saying "both...and..." in English but sounds even more natural in Chinese. 这个饭馆的菜又好吃又便宜 (The food at this restaurant is both delicious and cheap). 这双鞋又贵又不好看 (These shoes are both expensive and ugly). The power of 又……又…… is that it creates a vivid, balanced description — the listener immediately gets a complete picture. Both qualities are given equal weight. You can use it for praise (又聪明又努力), complaints (又冷又下雨), or neutral descriptions (又大又圆). It works with adjectives and with verbs: 她又唱又跳 (She was both singing and dancing).
Key Points
- 又 + A + 又 + B, where A and B are adjectives or verbs.
- Both qualities are simultaneous — they exist at the same time.
- Works for positive pairs: 又好看又便宜 (good-looking and cheap).
- Works for negative pairs: 又贵又难吃 (expensive and terrible).
- Works for verbs: 又唱又跳 (singing and dancing at the same time).
- The two qualities should be parallel — both adjectives or both verbs.
- Do not confuse with 也……也…… which is for different subjects, not same-subject dual qualities.
Chinese speakers love balanced, parallel expressions. 又……又…… fits perfectly into the Chinese aesthetic of symmetry in language. You will hear it constantly in food reviews, product descriptions, and when people talk about the weather.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
这个饭馆的菜又好吃又便宜。
The food at this restaurant is both delicious and cheap.
这双鞋又贵又不好看。
These shoes are both expensive and ugly.
她又聪明又漂亮。
She is both smart and beautiful.
今天又冷又下雨。
Today it is both cold and rainy.
孩子们又唱又跳，非常开心。
The children were singing and dancing, very happy.
这个西瓜又大又甜。
This watermelon is both big and sweet.
我又饿又渴。
I am both hungry and thirsty.
他又高又帅。
He is both tall and handsome.
Common Mistakes
Do not add 很 inside the 又……又…… pattern. The 又 already implies degree. Also, no comma is needed between the two parts.
Both connectors must be 又 — do not mix 又 with 也. The pattern is 又A又B, not 又A也B.
Do not insert 是 in the 又……又…… pattern. Adjectives connect directly: 又 + Adj + 又 + Adj.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Use 又……又…… for food descriptions at restaurants: 又辣又香 (spicy and fragrant), 又甜又软 (sweet and soft).
Keep the two adjectives balanced in length — one-syllable pairs (又大又甜) or two-syllable pairs (又好看又便宜) sound best.
For negative descriptions, you can use 不 inside: 又不好看又不好吃 (neither good-looking nor tasty).
Practice by describing people, food, and weather — these are the most common contexts for 又……又…….
Homework
Describe five foods, three people, and two places using 又……又……. Try to use both positive and negative pairs. Example: 我最喜欢的菜又辣又好吃。