といい～といい means both … and; not only … also; whether it be … or ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to pick two representative aspects of something and emphatically state that both are excellent — or both are terrible.
This grammar point often appears in critical reviews, enthusiastic praise, opinion columns, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to emphasize that two facets of the same subject share a striking quality, といい～といい is a powerful pattern to learn because it lets you build a strong judgement with natural Japanese rhythm.
What does といい～といい mean?
Use といい～といい when you present two prominent aspects of a person, place, object, or situation, and then comment that both are notably good, bad, or characteristic.
Natural translations include:
- both … and; not only … also; whether it be … or ~; from … to …
Try to notice the writer’s stance first — praise, disappointment, criticism — then choose the English phrase that fits that stance.
How to form といい～といい
Attach といい after a noun, repeat with a second noun, then finish the sentence with an overall comment.
Typical examples of the pattern:
- 味といい香りといい
- デザインといい機能といい
- 彼の性格といい才能といい
The two nouns must belong to the same category — two features of the same thing, not random items. In JLPT questions, wrong answer choices often use this pattern with mismatched nouns or attach it to verbs.
When is といい～といい used?
Use といい～といい in situations like:
- giving a strong review or criticism of a product, meal, service, performance
- reacting emotionally to a personal experience, good or bad
- summing up what makes someone or something exceptional (or awful)
Tone and register:
- slightly formal, often found in opinionated speech, reviews, essays, and formal complaints
- conveys strong, subjective judgement; rare in flat, factual descriptions
- Common in test questions, social media reviews, workplace evaluation talk, and JLPT N1 reading
といい～といい example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what job といい～といい is doing: singling out two emblematic features to support a strong overall opinion.
Nuance of といい～といい
The key nuance is picking two salient features and using them as evidence for a sweeping judgement.
This matters because learners often treat it as a simple “both … and” list. However, といい～といい carries subjective weight. It says, “Even if I only mention these two, you can already see the whole picture.” The judgement that follows is usually emotional — admiration, disappointment, or sarcasm.
Compared with も〜も (also … also), といい～といい is far more rhetorical. も〜も is a calm, factual list. といい～といい is a dramatic presentation.
といい～といい vs といわず～といわず
Both といい～といい and といわず～といわず build sentences with two nouns, but they differ in focus.
If both translations seem possible, check whether you are selecting highlights to judge (といい～といい) or saying that something applies indiscriminately to all parts (といわず～といわず).
Common mistakes with といい～といい
A helpful practice method is to take a strong opinion you have — something you love or hate — and force yourself to express it with といい～といい before using も. That habit locks in the rhetorical feel.
Is といい～といい on the JLPT?
Yes. といい～といい is commonly taught as JLPT N1 grammar.
- Appears in reading comprehension as a signal of author’s evaluation
- Often tested in “choose the correct usage” sections
- Can appear in listening as part of a review or complaint
Test questions may give you a stem with a gap and ask you to select the right combination of nouns and といい. Pay attention to whether the two nouns are logically parallel.
Practice questions for といい～といい
Learning path for といい～といい
To learn といい～といい efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.
Related grammar to review next
- とあいまって — because it also combines two factors, but expresses that they work together to produce an effect
- とあれば — because it picks out a single hypothetical condition (“if it is the case that …”) with a strong consequent
- とあって — because it explains a reaction with “because of the special situation that ~,” often followed by a judgement
- とばかりに — because it describes an attitude so strong that the person seems to say “~” without words, much like your judgement in といい～といい
Learn といい～といい with Hane
If you want to review といい～といい together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about といい～といい
What does といい～といい (to ii ~ to ii) mean in Japanese?
といい～といい (to ii ~ to ii) means “both ... and; not only ... also; whether it be ... or”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use といい～といい when you present two prominent aspects of a person, place, object, or situation, and then comment that both are notably good, bad, or characteristic.
How do you form といい～といい (to ii ~ to ii)?
Attach といい after a noun, repeat with a second noun, then finish the sentence with an overall comment.
What is the difference between といい～といい and といわず～といわず?
といい～といい: picks two representative points to conclude “both are X”. といわず～といわず: means “without distinguishing between X and Y, the state is widespread”.
What is an example sentence with といい～といい (to ii ~ to ii)?
あのレストランの料理といいサービスといい、申し分なかった。 — Both the food and the service at that restaurant were flawless.