又 yòu helps you say something is “both… and…”. Use it when one thing has two qualities at the same time, like “cheap and tasty”. The two qualities need to feel the same: both good, or both bad.
一 又 yòu + Adjective + 又 yòu + Adjective
Subject + 又 + Adj.1 + 又 + Adj.2
Put 又 yòu in front of each adjective. Read it like “both ___ and ___” in English.
我學生学生說说中文又難难又複雜复杂
My students said Chinese is difficult and complicated.
(I disagree…)
台北的夏天又濕湿又熱热
Taipei’s summer is hot and humid.
我看到他就覺得觉得又煩烦又討厭讨厌
When I see him, I feel both annoyed and disgusted.
有的媽媽妈妈認為认为自己又胖又醜丑，但她們她们真的都是最美的女人
Some mothers may think they are fat and ugly, but they are truly the most beautiful women.
二 Dropping the First 又 yòu
Subject + Adj.1 + 又 + Adj.2
When the first adjective has two syllables (two sounds), like 好吃 hǎochī or 聰明聪明cōngmíng, people often skip the first 又 yòu when they talk. The meaning stays the same. (This only works when the first adjective has two syllables.)
我覺得觉得那家餐廳餐馆好吃又便宜便宜
I think that restaurant is good and cheap.
你這这件大衣真是暖和又好看
Your coat is really warm and beautiful.
弟弟做的飯饭健康又營養营养
The meal my brother made was healthy and nutritious.
台灣台湾土狗聰明聪明又忠心，你要不要領養领养一隻只呢？
Taiwanese native dogs are intelligent and loyal. Would you like to adopt one?
FYI: Taiwan’s native dogs
Have you heard of the 台灣土狗台湾土狗táiwān tǔgǒu, also called the Formosan Mountain Dog? They are medium-sized dogs, about 12 to 18 kg and 45 to 52 cm tall. They are loyal, smart and quick to learn, so they can work as hunting dogs and guard dogs, and they make good pets too. Some are even used in search and rescue because they have a great sense of smell.
In the past, some people called them “poor people’s dogs” and did not take good care of them. That is changing. More and more people now see how great these dogs are. Why not adopt one?
三 又 yòu + 有 yǒu + Noun + 又 yòu + 有 yǒu + Noun
Subject + 又 + 有 + N₁ + 又 + 有 + N₂
You can also link two things that someone has, or doesn’t have. Put 又 yòu in front of each 有 yǒu (has) or 沒有没有méiyǒu (doesn’t have).
歐洲欧洲國家国家又有歷史历史又有文化，你真應該应该去一次
European countries have both history and culture. You really should go once.
這個这个電影电影又有意義意义又有趣，所以這麼这么熱門热门
This movie is both meaningful and interesting. That’s why it’s so popular.
Tiffany 又沒有没有耐心又沒有没有幽默感，是一個一个可怕的老師老师
Tiffany is a terrible teacher. She has neither patience nor a sense of humor.
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 我又很渴又很累
✅ 我又渴又累
Don’t put 很 hěn or any other extra word in front of the adjectives. Just use 又 yòu + the adjective, twice. Thirsty and tired both feel bad, so they fit together.
❌ 這这家店的菜又貴贵又好吃
✅ 這这家店的菜又便宜便宜又好吃
貴贵guì (expensive) feels bad, but 好吃 hǎochī (tasty) feels good. 又…又… yòu… yòu… wants both qualities to feel the same: both good, or both bad. Swap in 便宜 piányí (cheap) and it works.
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“The coffee is bitter and unpleasant, just like my life.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
咖啡又苦又難喝难喝，跟我的人生一樣一样
苦 kǔ (bitter) and 難喝难喝nánhē (bad to drink) are both bad, so they fit together. Each adjective gets its own 又 yòu.
“She is smart and pretty, so many guys like her.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
她又聰明聪明又漂亮漂亮，所以很多男生喜歡喜欢她
Also correct: you can drop the first 又 yòu when you talk, because the first adjective has two syllables. Example: 她聰明聪明又漂亮漂亮，所以…
Smart and pretty are both good things, so they match. Both versions mean the same thing.
“If you have neither ability nor background, it’s hard to find a good job.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
如果你又沒有没有能力又沒有没有背景，很難难找到好工作
又 yòu can also link two things you don’t have. Put 又 yòu in front of each 沒有没有méiyǒu (méiyǒu, “don’t have”).
“I’m thirsty and tired.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我又渴又累
The 很 hěn tile is a trap! You don’t need “very” here. Just use 又 yòu + the adjective, twice.
“This dress is cheap and pretty.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这件衣服又便宜便宜又漂亮漂亮
Also correct: you can drop the first 又 yòu when you talk, because the first adjective has two syllables. Example: 這这件衣服便宜便宜又漂亮漂亮
Cheap and pretty are both good points, so they fit together. Both versions mean the same thing.
“Today’s classroom is noisy and hot.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
今天的教室又吵又熱热
又…又… yòu… yòu… works for places too. Noisy (吵 chǎo) and hot (熱热rè) are both annoying, so they match. Both adjectives have one syllable, so keep both 又 yòu.
“This school has both a library and a swimming pool.”
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❌ Try Again
這这所學校学校又有圖書館图书馆又有游泳池
To link two things someone has, use 又 yòu + 有 yǒu + thing, then say it again for the second thing.
“He has no time and no money.”
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❌ Try Again
他又沒有没有時間时间又沒有没有錢钱
Having no time and having no money are both bad, so they match. 又 yòu + 沒有没有méiyǒu + thing, twice.
“The food she cooks is delicious and healthy.”
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❌ Try Again
她做的菜又好吃又健康
Also correct: you can drop the first 又 yòu when you talk, because the first adjective has two syllables. Example: 她做的菜好吃又健康
Delicious and healthy are both good points. Both versions mean the same thing.
“This movie is scary and boring. I want to leave now.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这部電影电影又可怕又無聊无聊，我想走了
Also correct: you can drop the first 又 yòu when you talk, because the first adjective has two syllables. Example: 這这部電影电影可怕又無聊无聊…
Scary and boring are both bad, and 又…又… yòu… yòu… already joins them, so you don’t need 但是 dànshì (dànshì, “but”). Both versions mean the same thing.
