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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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.  
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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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The two words shouldn't contrast in feeling. It is important to note they must both be bad or both be good.
 
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">Wǒ jiějie <em>yòu</em> cōngming <em>yòu</em> piàoliang. </span><span class="trans">My older 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">Zhōngguócài <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">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>
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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。<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>
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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}}
 +
{{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