既...又... (both...and..., formal)

• Pinyin: jì...yòu
• Formation: 既 + A + 又 + B
• Hanzi breakdown: 既 = 旡 (person turning away) + 皀 (food vessel) — 'already finished, completed'

Meaning

既...又... is used to express that something possesses two qualities or that two conditions are true at the same time. It is more formal and balanced than the colloquial 又...又... pattern.

既...又... is commonly found in written Chinese, speeches, and more formal descriptions. While 又...又... is casual and lively, 既...又... sounds more polished and is preferred in essays, reports, and structured arguments. Unlike 又...又..., the pattern 既...又... can more naturally combine qualities of different valence (既好看又实用) because its formal register allows for more nuanced, balanced evaluation. The second slot can also use 也 instead of 又 (既...也...) with the same meaning. A related but completely different pattern is 既然...就... (since...then...) which expresses causation, not simultaneous qualities.

Examples

1. 这个方案既简单又实用。 This plan is both simple and practical.
2. 学中文既有趣又有挑战性。 Learning Chinese is both interesting and challenging.
3. 她既会弹钢琴又会拉小提琴。 She can both play the piano and play the violin.

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal, academic

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 这款产品既环保又耐用。
• 他既是我的老师又是我的朋友。
• 这座城市既有现代化的高楼又有传统的胡同。

Don't Say

• 他既高又也帅。(Do not add 也 after 又 — use either 既...又... or 既...也..., not both particles together) → 他既高又帅。
• 既然天气好又适合出去玩。(Do not confuse 既 with 既然 — 既然 means 'since' and requires 就, while 既 means 'both' and pairs with 又) → 既然天气好，就出去玩吧。

Origin & History

既 originally depicted a person turning away from a food vessel after finishing a meal, meaning 'already completed.' In 既...又..., it retains the sense of 'already having one quality' and extends it to 'and also having another.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal