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既 … 也 / 又 … (both … and …)
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Good-looking and practical
- You are recommending a backpack to a friend.
- this这个to cover包both既good-looking好看and又practical实用。 — "This bag is both good-looking and practical."
both既 A and又 / also也 B = both A and B
- both既 A and又 B joins two qualities or actions of the same subject; and又 / also也 introduces the second.
- It sounds a little more formal and balanced than and又…and又….
she她both既clever聪明and又hard-working努力。
Complete: “This dish is both cheap and tasty.” 这个菜既便宜____好吃。
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既 A 又 B (既 A 也 B is also correct).
Two roles or two actions
- he / him他both既to be / is是teacher老师，also也to be / is是author作家。 — "He is both a teacher and a writer."
- we我们both既need to要study学习，also也need to要rest休息。 — "We need both to study and to rest."
we我们both既need to要study学习，also也need to要rest休息。
Build: “He is both a teacher and a writer.”
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既是…，也是….
Same subject, same direction
- Both parts belong to one subject: he / him他both既…and又…, not he / him他both既…，she她and又….
- The two qualities should fit together (both good, both bad); for a contrast use but但是.
Which sentence is correct?
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他既高又瘦 is right: 既 A 又 B describes one subject, with both words after it. A second subject (她) breaks the pattern.
both既…and又… versus not only不但…but also而且…
- both既…and又… gives two qualities equal weight.
- not only不但…but also而且… builds up: the second point is stronger: not only不但cheap便宜，but also而且quality质量very很good好.
not only不但cheap便宜，but also而且quality质量very很good好。
不但…而且… usually makes the second point stronger.
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It builds up; 既…又… gives equal weight.
Recap
- both既 A and又 / also也 B = both A and B (same subject, equal weight).
- not only不但…but also而且… builds up to a stronger second point.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Sentence patterns.
You are recommending a backpack to a friend. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.