Expressing "both A and B" with "you"

In English, we often use descriptive words, and more than not, use multiple at a time. The character 又 (yòu) can be used to give two qualities or features to something. Using 又 (yòu) and the structure is like saying that something is "both ... and ... " in English.

Structure

The structure in Chinese is:

Subj. + 又 + Adj. 1 + 又 + Adj. 2

Unlike in English, the two words can't contrast in feeling. It is important to note they must both be bad or both be good.

Examples

• 她 男朋友 又 高 又 帅。Tā nánpéngyou yòu gāo yòu shuài.Her boyfriend is both tall and handsome.
• 这 个 房子 又 大 又 亮。Zhè ge fángzi yòu dà yòu liàng.This house is both big and bright.
• 妈妈 的 头发 又 黑 又 亮。Māma de tóufa yòu hēi yòu liàng.Mom's hair is both black and shiny.
• 我姐姐 又 聪明 又 漂亮。Wǒjiějie yòu cōngmíng yòu piàoliang.My elder sister is both smart and beautiful。
• 中国菜 又 便宜 又 好吃。Zhōngguó cài yòu piányi yòu hǎochī.Chinese food is both cheap and good-tasting.
• 你们 老板 又 年轻 又 有钱。Nǐmen lǎobǎn yòu niánqīng yòu yǒu qián.Your boss is both young and rich.
• 这里 的 咖啡 又 贵 又 难喝。Zhèlǐ de kāfēi yòu guì yòu nánhē.The coffee here is both expensive and bad-tasting.
• 我家小狗 又 可爱 又 听话。Wǒjiāgǒu yòu kě'ài yòu tīnghuà.My family's dog is both cute and obedient.
• 上海 的 冬天 又 冷 又 湿。 Shànghǎi de dōngtiān yòu lěng yòu shī.Winter here in Shanghai is both cold and humid.
• 她 小时候 又 矮 又 瘦，现在 漂亮 多 了。Tā xiǎoshíhou yòu ǎi yòu shòu.She was both short and thin when she was young.Now she is much prettier.

See also

• Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"
• Expressing "not only… but also"
• "Both… and…" with "ji"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 122) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 87) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (p. 66) →buy