The Chinese phrase 又 $\dots$ 又 $\dots$ (yòu $\dots$ yòu $\dots$) is a very useful structure used to indicate that a person, thing, or action possesses two concurrent qualities or states.
It means "both $\dots$ and $\dots$" or "not only $\dots$ but also $\dots$" in a way that emphasizes the simultaneous existence of two characteristics.
1. Basic Structure
The structure is:
2. Usage with Adjectives (Qualities)
This is the most common usage. The two characteristics are usually parallel (similar in nature) and often positive or negative together.
| Structure | Chinese Sentence (Pinyin) | English Translation |
| Adj + Adj | 她又聪明又漂亮。 (Tā yòu cōngmíng yòu piàoliang.) | She is both smart and beautiful. |
| Adj + Adj | 这件衣服又贵又难看。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu yòu guì yòu nánkàn.) | This piece of clothing is both expensive and ugly. |
| Adj + Adj | 这个工作又轻松又有趣。 (Zhège gōngzuò yòu qīngsōng yòu yǒuqù.) | This job is both relaxing (easy) and interesting. |
3. Usage with Verbs (Actions) or Verb Phrases
It can describe two actions or states that happen at the same time or two activities that a person regularly does.
| Structure | Chinese Sentence (Pinyin) | English Translation |
| Verb + Verb | 他下班回家，又做饭又洗碗。 (Tā xiàbān huí jiā, yòu zuò fàn yòu xǐ wǎn.) | After work, he is both cooking and washing dishes. (Doing both things in that period.) |
| VP + VP | 他周末又打篮球又看电影。 (Tā zhōumò yòu dǎ lánqiú yòu kàn diànyǐng.) | On weekends, he both plays basketball and watches movies. |
| Verb + State | 孩子们又哭又闹。 (Háizi men yòu kū yòu nào.) | The children were both crying and making a scene (being noisy). |
Key Points to Remember
Parallel Structure: The two parts following 又 must be the same grammatical type (e.g., two adjectives, two verbs, or two verb phrases).
No Complements: Do not put adverbs of degree (like 很 hěn, "very") before the adjectives within the 又 $\dots$ 又 $\dots$ structure.
Correct: 又漂亮又聪明 (Yòu piàoliang yòu cōngmíng)
Incorrect: 又很漂亮又很聪明 (Yòu hěn piàoliang yòu hěn cōngmíng)
Emphasis on Concurrence: The main function is to stress that both qualities or actions exist at the same time.
