Difference between revisions of "Expressing "both A and B" with "you""

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* 她 男朋友 <em>又</em> 高 <em>又</em> 帅。<span class="pinyin">Tā nánpéngyou <em>yòu</em> gāo <em>yòu</em> shuài.</span><span class="trans">Her boyfriend is both tall and handsome.</span>
 
* 她 男朋友 <em>又</em> 高 <em>又</em> 帅。<span class="pinyin">Tā nánpéngyou <em>yòu</em> gāo <em>yòu</em> shuài.</span><span class="trans">Her boyfriend is both tall and handsome.</span>
* 这 个 房子 <em>又</em> 大 <em>又</em> 亮。<span class="pinyin">Zhège fángjiān <em>yòu</em> dà <em>yòu</em> liàng.</span><span class="trans">This house is both big and bright.</span>
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* 这 个 房子 <em>又</em> 大 <em>又</em> 亮。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge fángzi <em>yòu</em> dà <em>yòu</em> liàng.</span><span class="trans">This house is both big and bright.</span>
 
* 妈妈 的 头发 <em>又</em>  黑 <em>又</em> 亮。<span class="pinyin">Māma de tóufa <em>yòu</em> hēi <em>yòu</em>  liàng.</span><span class="trans">Mom's hair is both black and shiny.</span>
 
* 妈妈 的 头发 <em>又</em>  黑 <em>又</em> 亮。<span class="pinyin">Māma de tóufa <em>yòu</em> hēi <em>yòu</em>  liàng.</span><span class="trans">Mom's hair is both black and shiny.</span>
 
* 我姐姐 <em>又</em> 聪明 <em>又</em> 漂亮。<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiějie <em>yòu</em> cōngmíng <em>yòu</em> piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">My elder sister is both smart and beautiful。</span>
 
* 我姐姐 <em>又</em> 聪明 <em>又</em> 漂亮。<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiějie <em>yòu</em> cōngmíng <em>yòu</em> piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">My elder sister is both smart and beautiful。</span>

Revision as of 02:13, 24 September 2015

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 帅。Tā nánpéngyou yòu gāo yòu shuài.Her boyfriend is both tall and handsome.
  • 这 个 房子 亮。Zhè ge fángzi yòuyòu liàng.This house is both big and bright.
  • 妈妈 的 头发 亮。Māma de tóufa yòu hēi yòu liàng.Mom's hair is both black and shiny.
  • 我姐姐 聪明 漂亮。Wǒjiějie yòu cōngmíng yòu piàoliang.My elder sister is both smart and beautiful。
  • 中国菜 便宜 好吃。Zhōngguó cài yòu piányi yòu hǎochī.Chinese food is both cheap and good-tasting.
  • 你们 老板 年轻 有钱。Nǐmen lǎobǎn yòu niánqīng yòu yǒu qián.Your boss is both young and rich.
  • 这里 的 咖啡 难喝。Zhèlǐ de kāfēi yòu guì yòu nánhē.The coffee here is both expensive and bad-tasting.
  • 我家小狗 可爱 听话。Wǒjiāgǒu yòu kě'ài yòu tīnghuà.My family's dog is both cute and obedient.
  • 她 小时候 瘦,现在 漂亮 多 了。Zhè ge háizi yòu shòu yòu xiǎo.This child is both thin and small.
  • 上海 的 冬天 湿。 Shànghǎi de dōngtiān yòu lěng yòu shī.He is both ugly and stupid.


See also

Sources and further reading

Books