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

• 他 又 高 又 帅。Tā yòu gāo yòu shuài.He is both tall and handsome.
• 她 又 聪明 又 漂亮。Tā yòu cōngmíng yòu piàoliang.She is both smart and beautiful。
• 这 个 啤酒 又 好喝 又 便宜。Zhè ge píjiǔ yòu hǎo hē yòu piányí.This beer is both good-tasting and cheap.
• 他 又 丑 又 笨。Tā yòu chǒu yòu bèn.He is both ugly and stupid.
• 这 房间 又 大 又 亮。Zhè fángjiān yòu dà yòu liàng.This apartment is both big and bright.
• 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 个 苹果 又 红 又 甜。Zhè ge píngguǒ yòu hóng yòu tián.This apple is both red and sweet.
• 这 个 孩子 又 瘦 又 小。Zhè ge háizi yòu shòu yòu xiǎo.This child is both thin and small.
• 小狗 又 可爱 又 听话。Xiǎo gǒu yòu kě'ài yòu tīnghuà.The puppy is both cute and obedient.
• 这 种 东西 真 是 又 贵 又 难吃。Zhè zhǒng dōngxī zhēn shì yòu guì yòu nán chī.This thing really is both expensive and bad-tasting.

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