又 + Adj. + 又 + Adj. (both...and...)

• Pinyin: yòu
• Formation: Subj. + 又 + Adj. 1 + 又 + Adj. 2
• Hanzi breakdown: 又 = pictograph of a right hand — originally 'again, also'

Meaning

又...又... is used to describe something or someone possessing two qualities simultaneously. It emphasizes the coexistence of both attributes, which are typically either both positive or both negative.

This pattern is very common in everyday spoken Chinese for making vivid, balanced descriptions. The two adjectives should generally carry the same emotional valence — both positive (又便宜又好吃) or both negative (又热又闷). Mixing positive and negative adjectives sounds unnatural. Besides adjectives, 又...又... can also connect two verb phrases to describe simultaneous actions (他又唱又跳), though the adjective pattern is more common. Compared to the more formal 既...又..., the 又...又... pattern is colloquial and lively. Word order between the two adjectives is generally flexible, though shorter or more basic adjectives tend to come first.

Examples

1. 这家店的包子又便宜又好吃。 The steamed buns at this shop are both cheap and delicious.
2. 今天的天气又热又闷，真不舒服。 Today's weather is both hot and stuffy — really uncomfortable.
3. 她的房间又干净又整齐。 Her room is both clean and tidy.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这件衣服又好看又舒服，我很喜欢。
• 那条路又窄又黑，晚上走很危险。
• 这个周末又下雨又刮风，哪儿也去不了。
• 他做的菜又香又嫩。

Don't Say

• 这个手机又好看又难用。(The two adjectives should have the same emotional valence — do not mix positive and negative; use 虽然...但是... instead) → 这个手机虽然好看，但是很难用。
• 又他高又他帅。(又 must directly precede the adjective, not the subject — the subject comes before the first 又) → 他又高又帅。
• 这个菜又很辣又很咸。(Do not add 很 after 又 — 又 already provides the degree modification) → 这个菜又辣又咸。

Origin & History

又 is a pictograph of a right hand, originally meaning 'again' or 'also.' The doubled structure 又...又... naturally evolved to express the co-occurrence of two qualities, reinforcing the 'and also' meaning through repetition.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal