兼备 (jiān bèi) — to combine (two qualities, attributes, or funct…

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning to possess two qualities at once (e.g. 德才兼备). Use it in writing; in everyday speech prefer 两个都有 / 又有…又有….

verb

to combine (two qualities, attributes, or functions)to possess both simultaneously

，兼备。
Zhè zuò jiàn zhù jì měi guān yòu shí yòng, kě wèi měi guān yǔ shí yòng jiān bèi.
This building is both beautiful and functional — it can be said to combine beauty and practicality.
，。
Zhè wèi xuǎn shǒu dé cái jiān bèi, shēn shòu dà jiā zūn jìng.
This contestant has both virtue and talent, deeply respected by everyone.
兼备。
Yì kuǎn hǎo de shǒu jī yīng gāi xìng néng yǔ xù háng jiān bèi.
A good phone should combine performance with battery life.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

兼jiānboth/simultaneously

“兼” (both/simultaneously) and “备” (possess) combine to mean having both at once.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape of 兼 pictures a hand holding two grain stalks, showing two things together.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 備; 备 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 備 shows a person carrying a quiver, matching the meaning 'ready; prepared'; the simplified 备 is a later abbreviation.