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Using 既……，又/也…… to Link Two Features
既……，又/也…… presents two coordinated aspects of one subject or situation. Learn how to form the pattern, when to use 又 or 也, and how it differs from other ways of organizing information.
这家书店既安静，又离地铁站很近。
The two coordinated descriptions are 安静 and 离地铁站很近.
Read the full explanation and examples
Meaning: two aspects together
既……，又/也…… coordinates two related qualities, abilities, needs or actions. Often they concern the same subject; they can also describe one broader situation. “Balanced” here means presenting aspects as a pair, not guaranteeing a fair judgment or requiring two positive features.
这家书店既安静，又离地铁站很近。
The two coordinated descriptions are 安静 and 离地铁站很近.
Build a balanced sentence
Place 既 before the first coordinated element and 又 or 也 before the second. Keep the two elements grammatically parallel where possible: adjective with adjective, verb phrase with verb phrase, or a complete clause with a complete clause. The subject is often shared, so it may appear only once before 既. If the two parts have different subjects, state them where needed to keep the sentence clear.
她既会设计网页，也会写程序。
The shared subject 她 takes two parallel ability phrases.
这项工作既需要耐心，又需要细心。
The verb phrase 需要 is repeated to make the parallel structure clear.
- Use 既 immediately before the first point you want to coordinate.
- Put 又 or 也 before the second point.
- Repeat shared wording only when it improves clarity; repetition is common and can make the parallel structure easy to follow.
Choosing 又 or 也
Both 又 and 也 can introduce the second coordinated part in this pattern. Often, the sentence works naturally with either one. The choice can depend on rhythm, emphasis, and the wording of the two parts; do not memorize a strict rule that one marker is always required for a particular type of word. Read the complete sentence aloud or compare it with familiar phrasing, while keeping the core meaning—two aspects together—unchanged.
会议既讨论了预算，也确定了下一步安排。
The two coordinated actions share the subject 会议.
When it fits, and a useful contrast
The coordinated information may be positive, negative or mixed. 这台机器既费电，又容易坏 combines two drawbacks; 这家店既便宜，又有点吵 combines an advantage with a drawback. Both points are being asserted together. The pattern can also appear in a question, as the shop example below shows.
这家店既便宜，又方便吗？
吗 turns the complete coordinated statement into a yes-or-no question.
Compare coordination with replacement. 既便宜又方便 asserts both features; 不是便宜，而是方便 rejects one description and substitutes another. 一方面…另一方面… is another way to organize two aspects of a discussion. The forms can overlap in topic, but they do different discourse work; choose the relationship you actually mean.
- Do both parts add compatible information about the same subject or situation?
- Are the two parts grammatically parallel enough to read as a pair?
- Does the second part add information, rather than reject or replace the first?
Frequently asked questions
Does the subject have to appear twice?
No. When both parts share a subject, it commonly appears once before 既. Repeat or add a subject only when it helps clarity.
Can this pattern appear in a question?
Yes. Keep the two coordinated parts and place a suitable question form, such as 吗, at the end when asking a yes-or-no question.
Is 又 always different from 也 here?
Not necessarily. 她既会设计网页，也会写程序 and the version with 又会写程序 can both coordinate the two abilities naturally. The wording and emphasis may affect which you prefer. This overlap inside 既…又/也… does not make 又 and 也 interchangeable everywhere, such as when 又 means doing something again.
