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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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.  
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When you're getting descriptive, you may find yourself wanting to use multiple [[adjective]]s at a time. The character 又 (yòu) can be used to give two qualities to something. Using the double 又 (yòu) structure is like saying that something is "both… and…" in English.  
  
=== Structure ===
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== Structure ==
  
 
The structure in Chinese is:
 
The structure in Chinese is:
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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.
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The two words shouldn't contrast in feeling. It is important to note they must both be bad or both be good.
  
=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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>
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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>
* 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>
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*这 个 房子 <em>又</em> 大 <em>又</em> 亮。<span class="pinyin">Zhège 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>
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*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>
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*我 姐姐 <em>又</em> 聪明 <em>又</em> 漂亮。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiějie <em>yòu</em> cōngming <em>yòu</em> piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">My older sister is both smart and beautiful.</span>
* 中国菜 <em>又</em> 便宜 <em>又</em> 好吃。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó cài <em>yòu</em>  piányi <em>yòu</em> hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">Chinese food is both cheap and good-tasting.</span>
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*中国 菜 <em>又</em> 便宜 <em>又</em> 好吃。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó cài <em>yòu</em>  piányi <em>yòu</em> hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">Chinese food is both cheap and good-tasting.</span>
* 你们 老板 <em>又</em>  年轻 <em>又</em> 有钱。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen lǎobǎn <em>yòu</em> niánqīng <em>yòu</em> yǒu qián.</span><span class="trans">Your boss is both young and rich.</span>
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*你们 老板 <em>又</em>  年轻 <em>又</em> 有钱。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen lǎobǎn <em>yòu</em> niánqīng <em>yòu</em> yǒuqián.</span><span class="trans">Your boss is both young and rich.</span>
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>又</em>  贵 <em>又</em> 难喝。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de kāfēi <em>yòu</em> guì <em>yòu</em> nánhē.</span><span class="trans">The coffee here is both expensive and bad-tasting.</span>
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*这里 的 咖啡 <em>又</em>  贵 <em>又</em> 难喝。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de kāfēi <em>yòu</em> guì <em>yòu</em> nánhē.</span><span class="trans">The coffee here is both expensive and bad-tasting.</span>
* 我家小狗 <em>又</em> 可爱 <em>又</em> 听话。<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiāgǒu <em>yòu</em> kě'ài <em>yòu</em> tīnghuà.</span><span class="trans">My family's dog is both cute and obedient.</span>
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*我 家 小狗 <em>又</em> 可爱 <em>又</em> 听话。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā xiǎogǒu <em>yòu</em> kě'ài <em>yòu</em> tīnghuà.</span><span class="trans">My family's dog is both cute and obedient.</span>
* 上海 的 冬天 <em>又</em> 冷 <em>又</em> 湿。<span class="pinyin"> Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <em>yòu</em> lěng <em>yòu</em> shī.</span><span class="trans">Winter here in Shanghai is both cold and humid.</span>
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*上海 的 冬天 <em>又</em> 冷 <em>又</em> 湿。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <em>yòu</em> lěng <em>yòu</em> shī.</span><span class="trans">Winter here in Shanghai is both cold and humid.</span>
* 她 小时候 <em>又</em>  矮 <em>又</em> 瘦,现在 漂亮 多 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎoshíhou <em>yòu</em> ǎi <em>yòu</em> shòu.</span><span class="trans">She was both short and thin when she was young.Now she is much prettier.</span>
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*她 小时候 <em>又</em>  矮 <em>又</em> 瘦。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎoshíhou <em>yòu</em> ǎi <em>yòu</em> shòu.</span><span class="trans">She was both short and thin when she was young. </span>
 
 
 
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 122) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|32}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 87) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|122}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (p. 66) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|87}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|66}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|又|A2|又…… 又……|他 <em>又</em> 高 <em>又</em> 帅。|grammar point|ASGPFUM2}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{Basic Grammar|又|A2|又⋯⋯ 又⋯⋯|他 <em>又</em> 高 <em>又</em> 帅。|grammar point|ASGPFUM2}}
 
{{Rel char|又}}
 
{{Rel char|又}}
 
{{Similar|Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"}}       
 
{{Similar|Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"}}       

Revision as of 07:52, 4 March 2019

When you're getting descriptive, you may find yourself wanting to use multiple adjectives at a time. The character 又 (yòu) can be used to give two qualities to something. Using the double 又 (yòu) structure is like saying that something is "both… and…" in English.

Structure

The structure in Chinese is:

Subj. + 又 + Adj. 1 + 又 + Adj. 2

The two words shouldn'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。Zhège 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。Wǒ jiějie yòu cōngming yòu piàoliang.My older 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 yǒuqián.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。Wǒ jiā xiǎogǒu yòu kě'ài yòu tīnghuà.My family's dog is both cute and obedient.
  • 上海 的 冬天 湿。Shànghǎi de dōngtiān yòu lěng yòu shī.Winter here in Shanghai is both cold and humid.
  • 她 小时候 瘦。Tā xiǎoshíhou yòu ǎi yòu shòu.She was both short and thin when she was young.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books