Expressing "both… and…" with "ji...you"

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既 (jì) can be used in conjunction with either 又 (yòu) or 也 (yě) to express that something is "both A and B":

Used with 又

Structure

既 + A + 又 + B

A and B can be adjectives, verbs or short phrases. Most of the time A and B will be of the same form. It often sounds better one both A and B are single syllables or both are two syllables.

Examples

  • 这个 同事 积极 努力。Zhège tóngshì jījí yòu nǔlì.This colleague is both proactive and hard-working.
  • 这 家 餐厅 便宜 好吃。Zhè jiā cāntīng piányi yòu hǎochī.This restaurant is both cheap and delicious.
  • 他 做 事情 好。Tā zuò shìqing kuài yòu hǎo.He does things both quickly and well.
  • 这 家 银行 的 服务 热情 周到。Zhè jiā yínháng de fúwù rèqíng yòu zhōudào.This bank's service is both enthusiastic and thorough.
  • 这个 产品 的 设计 时尚 人性化。Zhège chǎnpǐn de shèjì shíshàng yòu rénxìng-huà.This product's design is both stylish and user-friendly.

Used with 也

Structure

The structure can also be formed with 也, but here it is used primarily for verbs or verb phrases:

既 + [Verb Phrase] ,也 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 这里 是 你 的 家乡 , 是 我 的 家乡。Zhèlǐ shì nǐ de jiāxiāng, shì wǒ de jiāxiāng.This is both your hometown and mine.
  • 是 我 妈妈 , 是 我 朋友。 shì wǒ māma, shì wǒ péngyou.She is both my mother and my friend.
  • 要求 是 你 要 会 说 流利 的 中文 , 要 会 说 流利 的 英文 。Yāoqiú shì nǐ yào huì shuō liúlì de Zhōngwén, yào huì shuō liúlì de Yīngwén.The requirement is that you need to speak both fluent Chinese and English.
  • 你 不 要 多 管 闲事 ,因为 这 和 你 没 关系 , 和 我 没 关系 。Nǐ bùyào duō guǎn xiánshì, yīnwèi zhè hé nǐ méi guānxi, hé wǒ méi guānxi.Do not meddle in it, for it is neither your business nor mine.
  • 爸爸 很 生 我 的 气 ,不过 他 没 打 我 , 没 骂 我 。Bàba hěn shēng wǒ de qì, bùguò tā méi dǎ wǒ, méi mà wǒ.Dad was really mad at me, but he neither hit me nor yelled at me.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books