～といい～といい

• Reading: といい
• Romaji: to ii ~ to ii
• Formation: Noun A + といい + Noun B + といい + Evaluation

Meaning

A structure meaning 'whether it's ~ or ~,' used to introduce two representative aspects of a person or thing in order to support an overall evaluation or judgment. Both aspects point toward the same conclusion.

といい～といい picks out two notable features (often nouns) and uses them as evidence for a single overarching assessment. It differs from ～も～も in that it specifically frames each item as a supporting example for a judgment, not just a list. The evaluation at the end is often strongly positive or negative. It can also be written as ～と言い～と言い. The speaker implies that these are not the only supporting points — there are others as well. This makes the evaluation feel well-founded and emphatic. It is moderately formal and common in written evaluations, reviews, and spoken commentary.

Examples

1. この旅館は料理といいサービスといい、申し分なかった。 This ryokan was flawless, whether in terms of the food or the service.
2. 彼女は容姿といい性格といい、周囲から慕われるのも納得だ。 Whether it's her looks or her personality, it's no wonder she's adored by everyone around her.
3. あのカフェは雰囲気といいコーヒーの味といい、何度でも通いたくなる。 Whether it's the atmosphere or the taste of the coffee, that cafe makes me want to go back again and again.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, evaluative

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• この街は治安といい教育環境といい、子育てに最適だ。
• 彼の論文は構成といい論拠といい、非常に説得力がある。
• このホテルは立地といい清潔さといい、大変満足している。

Don't Say

• りんごといいバナナといい、果物を買った。(Using ～といい～といい as a simple shopping list without an evaluative conclusion) → りんごといいバナナといい、この果物屋は品質が素晴らしい。
• 天気といい気温といい。(Ending with ～といい without stating the overall evaluation) → 天気といい気温といい、今日は外出日和だ。

Origin & History

Formed by repeating the quotative particle と plus the conditional/concessive いい (good). The structure originally meant 'whether you say A or B,' evolving into a pattern for citing representative examples to back a judgment.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal