有 A 有 B
now A, now B; some A and some B (variety, or a balance of opposites)
Structure
有 A 有 B （A、B 是两个单音节词，多为反义词）
What it means
Two one-syllable words, each after 有. With opposites it says a thing is varied or balanced (now A, now B); with related actions it paints a lively scene.
How it is built
有 + A + 有 + B (single syllables): 笔画有轻有重 (the strokes are now light, now heavy); 一家人有说有笑 (the family talked and laughed).
When to use it
Loved by critics of calligraphy and painting: 有疏有密, 有虚有实. Set phrases: 有声有色, 有始有终. 又…又… says both hold at once (又大又甜); 有的…有的… splits a group, each with a full predicate.
Watch out
Single syllables that belong together: ✗ 有漂亮有便宜. 有浓有淡 means some strokes dark, some pale; ✗ 又浓又淡 would make the same ink both at once.
Examples
字与字的间隔有大有小，笔画有轻有重。
The gaps between characters are now wide, now narrow, and the strokes now light, now heavy.
这幅山水画有浓有淡，有虚有实，越看越有味道。
This landscape has ink both dark and pale, solid forms and empty space, and the longer you look the more there is to it.
一家人坐在院子里有说有笑，十分热闹。
The family sat in the courtyard talking and laughing, full of life.
Learn this in Lesson 91 · HSK 6–7: 兰亭序与书法 (The Orchid Pavilion and the art of calligraphy)
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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