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.
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:
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:
- 先生でもあり作家でもある
- 便利でもあり快適でもある
- 義務でもあり権利でもある
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
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.
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.
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
Is でもあり～でもある on the JLPT?
Yes, でもあり～でもある is firmly part of JLPT N1 grammar.
- Expect it in reading passages that describe dual roles or characteristics.
- It often appears in sentence‑ordering questions where you must reconstruct a formal statement.
- You may be asked to choose between でもあり and であり based on context.
Practice questions for でもあり～でもある
Learning path for でもあり～でもある
Related grammar to review next
- でも何でもないくも何ともない — because it extends the でも listing structure into a negative, exhaustive “not even … nor …” meaning.
- であれ〜であろうと — 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.
- でなくて何だろう — 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 — 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.
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FAQ about でもあり～でもある
What does でもあり～でもある mean in Japanese?
でもあり～でもある means “to also be; both… and ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is でもあり～でもある on the JLPT?
でもあり～でもある is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice でもあり～でもある?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after でもあり～でもある, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.