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Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 又
Though 又 (yòu) looks simple in appearance, it’s not so straightforward, as it can mean several meanings in different contexts.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to varying uses of 又 (yòu) in Chinese that you may encounter in everyday life.
EXPRESSING BOTH A & B WITH 又
The double 又 (yòu) structure is a fixed pattern in Chinese.
PATTERN
Subject + 又 + Adjective 1 + 又 + Adjective 2
The meaning of this double 又 (yòu) structure is like saying that something is “both… and…” in English.
The only difference is that we can only use this pattern to link adjectives, that is, to give qualities to something. So, for example, if you want to describe someone’s good figure using multiple adjectives at a time, you may say:
他 又 高 又 壮 ，看 起 来 很 健 康
→He was tall and robust. And he looked fit.
It’s important to remember that the two adjectives in this double 又 (yòu) structured sentence shouldn’t be contrasted in feeling. Instead, they must both be approving or both be disapproving. Here are more sentence examples below.
EXPRESSING “AGAIN” IN THE PAST WITH 又
Another common explanation of 又 (yòu) is “again” or “once again.” This usage is also the most common one in chat.
For instance, if you want to express something that has happened again, as in, “oops, I did it again!” in Chinese, you can use 又 (yòu).
PATTERN
(Subject +) 又 + Verb + 了
In this case, it usually expresses an action that has already happened again for (at least) the second time. It doesn’t have to be in quick succession, though.
As you can tell, when you use negative adjectives in this sentence, there is usually an implied feeling of complaining.
Expressing that something is about to happen again with 又 (yòu)
Besides indicating something happened again, 又 (yòu) can also express something is about to happen again.
It’s almost as if it has already happened in your mind. In these cases, it’s quite common for 又 to be immediately followed by 要 (yào), 可以 (kěyǐ), or 能 (néng), and you’ll notice that there’s often a 了 at the end of the sentences.
Here’s the variant structure:
PATTERN
(Subject +) 又要/又能/又可以 + Verb + 了
EMPHASIZING NEGATION WITH 又
In Chinese, we often use 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) for negation in sentences.
But do you know we can add 又 before 不 and 没 to emphasize the negation?
Well, in this usage, 又 (yòu) is often used to emphasize that something “didn’t happen,” “is not” the case, or “will not happen.”
PATTERN
又 + 不 / 没 + Predicate
Note that this structure is often used in an accusatory context.
And sometimes, we can use it with other expressions like 干吗 (gàn má) to show annoyance.
But this is usually considered a very colloquial expression, and it is sometimes not polite.
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FAQs
What does 又 mean?
The character 又 (yòu) can mean several things in Chinese, depending on the context. The most common are:
– Expressing “both A and B” with 又 (yòu)
– Expressing “again” in the past with 又 (yòu)
– Emphasizing negation with 又 (yòu)
Can 又 be used with negations?
Yes! You can use 又 (yòu) with 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) for negation in sentences. The structure is as follows:
又 + 不 / 没 + Predicate
Is 又 impolite?
Using 又 (yòu) in a negative sentence can often have a negative connotation, especially when used to answer a question. Since this is usually considered a very colloquial expression, it can often imply that you’re slightly annoyed.
What are some example sentences with 又 (yòu)?
Here are some examples with 又 (yòu):
– 这个房间又大又明亮。zhè gè fáng jiān yòu dà yòu míng liàng. The room is big and bright.
– 他又对我撒谎。tā yòu duì wǒ sā huǎng. He lied to me again.
– 今天又要加班了。jīn tiān yòu yào jiā bān le. I must work overtime again today.
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