既 jì… 又 yòu/ 也 yě… Chinese grammar

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, 既 jì… 又 yòu… and 既 jì… 也 yě… are used to express two qualities, actions, or conditions that exist simultaneously. Both structures are similar and function like “both… and…” in English.

Structure

既 jì + Adj + 又 yòu + Adj

這zhè件jiàn衣服yīfú既jì好看hǎokàn又yòu暖和nuǎnhuo这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu既jì好看hǎokàn又yòu暖和nuǎnhuo
This outfit is not only stylish but also warm.

林lín老師lǎoshī的de中文zhōngwén課kè既jì嚴格yángé又yòu無趣wúqù林lín老师lǎoshī的de中文zhōngwén课kè既jì严格yángé又yòu无趣wúqù
Mr. Lin’s Chinese class is strict and boring.

我wǒ家jiā狗gǒu既jì聰明cōngmíng又yòu可愛kěài我wǒ家jiā狗gǒu既jì聪明cōngming又yòu可爱kěài
My dog is smart and adorable.

台灣Táiwān的de夏天xiàtiān既jì潮濕cháoshī又yòu悶熱mēnrè， 很hěn容易róngyì有yǒu皮膚pífū問題wèntí台湾Táiwān的de夏天xiàtiān既jì潮湿cháoshī又yòu闷热mēnrè， 很hěn容易róngyì有yǒu皮肤pífū问题wèntí
Taiwan’s summers are humid and muggy, so it’s easy to get skin problems.

學xué中文zhōngwén真的zhēnde是shì既jì困難kùnnán又yòu有趣yǒuqù学xué中文zhōngwén真的zhēnde是shì既jì困难kùnnán又yòu有趣yǒuqù
Learning Chinese is challenging and fun.

既 jì + V + 也 yě + V

他tā既jì不bù來lái上課shàngkè也yě不bù請假qǐngjiǎ， 很hěn快kuài就jiù會huì被bèi退學tuìxué了le他tā既jì不bù来lái上课shàngkè也yě不bù请假qǐngjiǎ， 很hěn快kuài就jiù会huì被bèi退学tuìxué了le
He doesn’t show up for class and doesn’t request leave either—he’s going to get expelled soon.

我wǒ既jì不是búshì你nǐ女兒nǚér也yě不是búshì你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu， 你nǐ憑什麼píngshénme管guǎn我wǒ我wǒ既jì不是búshì你nǐ女儿nǚér也yě不是búshì你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu， 你nǐ凭什么píngshénme管guǎn我wǒ
I’m neither your daughter nor your girlfriend, so why do you think you can tell me what to do?

我wǒ遲到chídào了le一個yíge小時xiǎoshí， 可是kěshì他tā既jì沒méi生氣shēngqì也yě沒méi問wèn我wǒ為什麼wèishénme我wǒ迟到chídào了le一个yíge小时xiǎoshí， 可是kěshì他tā既jì没méi生气shēngqì也yě没méi问wèn我wǒ为什么wèishénme
I was an hour late, but he didn’t get mad or even ask why.

你nǐ既jì不bù想xiǎng吃chī亞洲yǎzhōu菜cài也yě不bù想xiǎng吃chī西方xīfāng菜cài，，你nǐ到底dàodǐ要yào吃chī什麼shénme你nǐ既jì不bù想xiǎng吃chī亚洲yàzhōu菜cài也yě不bù想xiǎng吃chī西方xīfāng菜cài，，你nǐ到底dàodǐ要yào吃chī什么shénme
You don’t want Asian food, and you don’t want Western food either. So what exactly do you want to eat?

我wǒ既jì沒有méiyǒu錢qián也yě沒有méiyǒu長相zhǎngxiàng， 我wǒ該gāi怎麼辦zěnmebàn？ 我wǒ既jì没有méiyǒu钱qián也yě没有méiyǒu长相zhǎngxiàng， 我wǒ该gāi怎么办zěnmebàn？
I have no money and no looks—what should I do?

Differences

既 jì… 又 yòu… is more formal and commonly found in written language or formal speech.

又 yòu… 又 yòu… is more commonly used in spoken language.