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说 A 也 A,说 B 也 B

A in one way and B in another; it depends how you look at it

Structure
话题 , 说 A 也 A , 说 B 也 B

What it means

A in one way and B in another: both opposite views are fair, so it depends how you look at it. The speaker usually goes on to say what it depends on.

How it is built

Topic,说 + A + 也 + A,说 + B + 也 + B, with A and B short opposite adjectives: 考驾照说难也难,说容易也容易 (Getting a licence is hard in one way and easy in another).

When to use it

Spoken and relaxed. Often followed by 要看… or 关键看…: 说多也多,说少也少,要看在哪个城市.

Watch out

Keep 也 in both halves, not 又 or 都: ✗说难又难 ✓说难也难. Do not confuse it with 说多不多,说少不少 (not really A, not really B either).

Examples

考驾照说难也难,说容易也容易。
Getting a driving licence is hard in one way and easy in another.
一个月五千块,说多也多,说少也少,要看在哪个城市。
Five thousand a month is a lot or not much, depending on which city you live in.
这件事说大也大,说小也小,关键看领导怎么想。
This could be a big deal or nothing at all; it all depends on what the boss thinks.
Learn this in Lesson 141 · HSK 7–9: 考驾照,抢车牌 (Driving tests and number plates)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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