# でもあり～でもある: to also be; both… and ~ > Learn how to use でもあり～でもある, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning to also be; both… and ~, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-demo-ari-demo-aru/ **でもあり～でもある** means **to also be; both… and ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to connect two nouns or nominalized elements, indicating that someone or something holds both attributes or roles simultaneously — with a pronounced “also” nuance. This pattern appears frequently in formal writing, descriptive essays, news articles, and structured spoken contexts. If you want to move beyond simple listing and express that two qualities coexist in a single subject as equally notable, **でもあり～でもある** gives your Japanese a polished, natural weight.
The も in でもあり adds a layer of “also” that turns a list of attributes into a statement of dual identity.
## What does でもあり～でもある mean? Use **でもあり～でもある** when you want to say that something is not just one thing but also another. It pairs two nouns (or な‑adjective stems) and treats them as equally true descriptions of the same subject. Natural translations include: - to also be; both… and ~ - not only … but also … - serves as both A and B The best translation depends on how strongly you want to emphasise the “also” facet. The core idea never changes: the subject holds both properties at the same time, and both are worth stating. ## How to form でもあり～でもある Attach **でもあり** and **でもある** directly to nouns or the stems of な‑adjectives. The pattern is:
Noun / Na‑adj stem + でもあり Noun / Na‑adj stem + でもある
For the polite form, end with **でもあります**: Noun1 + でもあり + Noun2 + でもあります Examples of the pattern: - 先生(せんせい)でもあり作家(さっか)でもある - 便利(べんり)でもあり快適(かいてき)でもある - 義務(ぎむ)でもあり権利(けんり)でもある The も is not optional; dropping it turns the expression into plain **であり～である**, which loses the “also” force. Remember that this pattern works with nouns and な‑adjective stems, not with verbs or い‑adjectives alone (い‑adjectives use a related but different structure: くもあり〜くもある). ## When is でもあり～でもある used? Use **でもあり～でもある** in situations like: - describing a person’s multiple roles or character traits - listing dual features of an object, place, or concept - making formal, balanced statements in writing or speeches Tone and register: - distinctly formal; frequent in essays, articles, and official commentary - less common in very casual chat, but perfectly natural in polite conversation - often appears on the JLPT N1 in reading comprehension and sentence‑ordering questions ## でもあり～でもある example sentences
彼かれは医者いしゃでもあり、研究者けんきゅうしゃでもある。
He is both a doctor and a researcher.
このカフェは静しずかでもあり、おしゃれでもある。
This café is both quiet and stylish.
その提案ていあんは斬新ざんしんでもあり、実用的じつようてきでもある。
The proposal is both innovative and practical.
運動うんどうは健康けんこうのためでもあり、ストレス解消かいしょうのためでもあります。
Exercise is both for your health and for relieving stress.
あの小説しょうせつは冒険ぼうけん物語ものがたりでもあり、恋愛れんあい小説しょうせつでもある。
That novel is both an adventure story and a romance.
この仕事しごとはやりがいでもあり、責任せきにんでもある。
This job is both rewarding and a responsibility.
After reading each sentence, ask what job **でもあり～でもある** is doing: it’s declaring two sides of the same coin — not just one. ## Nuance of でもあり～でもある The key nuance is **simultaneous identity**. The pattern insists that the subject genuinely holds both qualities at once, and the speaker treats them as equally worth mentioning. This matters because simpler patterns like **であり～である** just list; **でもあり～でもある** adds a reflective “also,” often used when the two traits complement or even contradict each other in an interesting way. For example, calling a city “historical yet modern” highlights both without subordinating one to the other.
💡 Because the も particle is additive, the pattern works best when the two descriptions are not obviously expected to go together — the “also” feels fresh and purposeful.
## でもあり～でもある vs であり～である Both **でもあり～でもある** and **であり～である** connect two properties, but they differ in nuance.
でもあり～でもある
“both … and also …”
When you want to emphasise that the second characteristic is equally notable, often surprising or complementary.
彼(かれ)は厳しい(きびしい)上司(じょうし)でもあり、頼れる(たよれる)相談(そうだん)相手(あいて)でもある。
He is both a strict boss and a dependable advisor.
vs
であり～である
“is A and B”
Simple factual listing, without the added “also” stress. Neutral and often used in definitions.
彼(かれ)は上司(じょうし)であり相談(そうだん)相手(あいて)である。
He is a boss and an advisor.
The difference may seem subtle, but in formal Japanese, choosing **でもあり** signals a deliberate intent to highlight coexistence. In the example above, the first version makes the contrast between “strict” and “dependable” stronger; the second is just a dry list. ## Common mistakes with でもあり～でもある
❌
忙いそがしいでもあり、たくさんでもある。
The pattern cannot attach directly to い‑adjectives in their dictionary form.
✅
い‑adjectives need the adverbial く form plus も: 忙いそがしくもあり、多おおくもある。
❌
この町(まち)は歴史(れきし)がありでもあり、自然(しぜん)がありでもある。
Don’t try to attach でもあり to full verb phrases. Use the noun forms or rephrase.
✅
この町(まち)は歴史(れきし)ある町(まち)でもあり、自然(しぜん)豊か(ゆたか)な場所(ばしょ)でもある。
❌
彼(かれ)は先生(せんせい)でもあるし、作家(さっか)でもある。
Mixing でもある with し is redundant and sounds like a casual afterthought. The linked でもあり…でもある is a clean, formal unit.
✅
彼(かれ)は先生(せんせい)でもあり、作家(さっか)でもある。
## Is でもあり～でもある on the JLPT?
N1

Yes, でもあり～でもある is firmly part of JLPT N1 grammar.

## Practice questions for でもあり～でもある
1 Use でもあり～でもある to describe a person you know in two different roles (e.g., friend and mentor).
2 Think of a place that is both relaxing and stimulating. Write a sentence with the pattern.
3 Rewrite a simple であり～である sentence you’ve seen in a textbook by adding も, then explain how the nuance changes.
4 Create a sentence about a modern technology (smartphone, AI, etc.) being both convenient and problematic. N1 nuance
## Learning path for でもあり～でもある
1
Confirm you understand the base copula である and its て‑form であり. Without that foundation, the “also” layer feels abstract.
2
Compare であり～である and でもあり～でもある side by side as done in the comparison section above. Focus on the extra weight that も brings.
3
Collect 3–5 real sentences from news articles or essays that use the pattern. Underline the two noun phrases it connects.
4
Practice transforming simple lists into でもあり～でもある statements about your own life, then say them aloud to get comfortable with the formal rhythm.
5
Finally, write a short paragraph where you contrast two things using でもあり～でもある and a similar pattern like であれ〜であれ. Notice how each shapes the tone.
## Related grammar to review next - [でも何(なん)でもないくも何(なん)ともない](/blog/n1-demo-nan-demo-nai-kumo-nan-tomo-nai/) — because it extends the でも listing structure into a negative, exhaustive “not even … nor …” meaning. - [であれ〜であろうと](/blog/n1-de-are-de-arou-to/) — because it also uses a hypothetical であれ form, allowing you to say “whether it is A or (even) B,” which pairs nicely with the additive nuance of でもあり. - [でなくて何(なん)だろう](/blog/n1-denakute-nan-darou/) — because it shares the である base and expresses a rhetorical “what else could it be?” contrasting assertion with doubt. - [であれ〜であれ](/blog/n1-de-are-de-are/) — because it takes the same formal copula and creates a concessive “be it A or B” structure, reinforcing the advanced である‑based grammar family. ## Learn でもあり～でもある with Hane If you want to review **でもあり～でもある** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)