亦（＝也）
also; too (the classical 也); in 亦A亦B, both A and B at once
Structure
亦 A 亦 B ｜ 主语 亦 动词
What it means
The written, classical 也 (“also, too”). In the frame 亦A亦B it says two things are true at once: 亦师亦友, teacher and friend at once.
How it is built
Subject + 亦 + verb: 李之藻亦受洗入教 (Li Zhizao too was baptised). Or 亦 + one syllable + 亦 + one syllable: 父母亦喜亦忧 (the parents are glad and anxious at once).
When to use it
Bookish; in conversation plain 也 is the word for “too”. Set four-character forms: 亦师亦友, 亦庄亦谐, 亦真亦幻, 亦步亦趋 (to copy someone step for step).
Watch out
亦 goes after the subject, never at the head of a sentence. In 亦A亦B each slot is one syllable: ✗亦老师亦朋友 ✓既是老师又是朋友.
Examples
两人此后亦师亦友，一起完成了一件影响深远的事。
From then on the two were teacher and friend to each other, and together they achieved something whose influence would run deep.
孩子考上了外地的大学，父母亦喜亦忧：喜的是孩子有出息，忧的是孩子从此要一个人在外地生活。
Their child has got into a university in another city, and the parents are glad and anxious at once: glad that the child has done well, anxious that from now on the child will be living alone far from home.
利玛窦去世前不久，李之藻亦受洗入教。
Shortly before Ricci died, Li Zhizao too was baptised and joined the Church.
Learn this in Lesson 247 · HSK 9+: 利玛窦与徐光启 (Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi)
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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