Ch 28 · Lesson 16Mandarin · Chapter 28 · Lesson 16 · Grammar primer
又…又 and 再…也: both, however much, never again
for two qualities at once, for however much, and for never again.
The short version
。Zài máng yě yào chī fàn.
Why?Hide
(zài) + adjective + (yě) means 'however… still': (zài guì wǒ yě yào mǎi), however dear it is, I'm buying it. The same two words make 'never again': (wǒ zài yě bú qù le), I'm never going again.
又 (yòu) ... 又 (yòu) ...: both, and
Twice, before two adjectives or two verbs, (yòu) means "both… and". The two usually point the same way:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Zhège cài yòu piányi yòu hǎochī. | This dish is cheap and tasty |
。 | Tā yòu lèi yòu è. | He's tired and hungry |
。 | Tā yòu huì chànggē yòu huì tiàowǔ. | She can sing and dance |
For "cheap but not tasty", use (suīrán)… (dànshì) instead: ， (suīrán piányi, dànshì bù hǎochī). More on the conjunctions page.
再 (zài)… 也 (yě): however much, and never again
(zài) + adjective + (yě) means "however… still". Picture the quality pushed further, and nothing changes:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Zài nán yě yào zuò wán. | However hard it is, it must be finished |
。 | Zài guì wǒ yě yào mǎi. | However dear it is, I'm buying it |
。 | Zài máng yě yào chī fàn. | However busy you are, you must eat |
The same two words make "never again". (zài yě bù) is a decision about the future; (zài yě méi) looks back:
。(Wǒ zài yě bú qù nà jiā diàn le.) - I'm never going to that shop again.。(Tā zài yě méi lái guo.) - He never came again.
The (le) in the first is the "change of situation" (le): a new decision, not a finished repeat.
Going further: The whole system on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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