兼而有之 (jiān ér yǒu zhī) — to have both (at the same time); to possess two things simultaneously

Definition

Written idiom meaning to possess two qualities at once, used in formal prose to sum up a preceding 'both A and B' statement. Pairs naturally with 既…又… or 二者.

idiom
to have both (at the same time)to possess two things simultaneously

Examples

  • ，兼而有之。
    Tā jì cōng ming yòu qín fèn, zhēn shì èr zhě jiān ér yǒu zhī.
    He is both smart and hardworking — truly having both qualities.
  • ，兼而有之。
    Zhè ge fāng àn jiān gù le xiào lǜ hé chéng běn, kě wèi jiān ér yǒu zhī.
    This plan takes both efficiency and cost into account — it can be said to have both.
  • ，兼而有之。
    Tā de zuò pǐn jì yǒu yì shù xìng yòu yǒu shí yòng xìng, zuò dào le jiān ér yǒu zhī.
    Her works have both artistry and practicality, achieving both at the same time.

Origin

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.

Open 兼 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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