JLPT N1 Grammar

〜といい〜といい (to ii ~ to ii)

〜といい〜といい (to ii ~ to ii)
"Both... and..."; "Whether... or..."

This expression is used to point out two representative examples of a person or thing to emphasize that the entirety of that subject shares a certain quality or state. It is typically used when the speaker is giving an evaluation (either high praise or strong criticism).

  • Formality: Neutral to formal. It is used in both spoken and written Japanese.
  • Context: Very common in business evaluations, product reviews, or when describing someone's character/skills. It is often used to express admiration or exasperation.
  • Nuance: The speaker chooses two distinct aspects ($A$ and $B$) to imply that "everything else about it is the same way too." It usually carries a strong emotional tone of being impressed, amazed, or annoyed.

Format

  • Noun A + といい + Noun B + といい
    味といい香りといい最高だ。 Both the taste and the aroma of this wine are the best.
    デザインといい機能といい、このPCは文句のつけようがない。 Whether it’s the design or the functionality, this PC is flawless.
    部長といい課長といい、うちの上司は話を聞いてくれない。 Both the General Manager and the Section Manager—none of my bosses listen to me.

Example sentences

  • 、。
    Whether it’s his looks or his personality, he is absolutely flawless.
  • 、。
    Both the taste of the food and the customer service in this restaurant are first-class.
  • 、。
    Both the location and the facilities of the new office are beyond reproach.
  • 、。
    Yesterday's presentation was perfect, both in its structure and the way it was delivered.
  • 、。
    Whether it’s my son or my daughter, they do nothing but play games without studying.
  • 、。
    Both the color and the shape make these shoes a perfect fit for you.
  • 、。
    Whether it’s the president or the vice president, they don't understand the hardships on the front lines.
  • 、。
    Both the speed and the accuracy of her work are wonderful.
  • 、。
    Both in terms of price and quality, they are creating an overwhelming gap with their competitors.
  • 、。
    Whether it’s his voice or his facial expression, it’s obvious that he is lying.

Similar Grammar

〜につけ〜につけ (ni tsuke ~ ni tsuke)

"Both... and...; every time..."
雨につけ風につけ、故郷を思い出す。 Both in rain and in wind (whenever it rains or blows), I think of my hometown.

Difference:

  • Usually used for things that trigger a specific feeling or emotion, often used with natural phenomena or recurring situations.

〜であれ〜であれ (de are ~ de are)

"Whether it be A or B..."
理由が何であれ、無断欠勤は許されない。 Whatever the reason may be, unannounced absence is not allowed.

Difference:

  • Used to say that the following statement holds true regardless of which option is chosen. It is more about "it doesn't matter which."

〜とわらわず〜とわらわず (to wazu ~ to wazu)

"Regardless of; without distinction between..."
昼とわらわず夜とわらわず、工事の音がうるさい。 Regardless of whether it's day or night, the construction noise is loud.

Difference:

  • Emphasizes that there is no distinction or boundary between two categories.

〜なり〜なり (nari ~ nari)

"A or B (or something else)..."
メールなり電話なりで連絡してください。 Please contact me by email, phone, or whatever.

Difference:

  • Used when giving suggestions or choices to someone. It implies "for example, A or B."

〜やら〜やら (yara ~ yara)

"A, B, and so on..."
今日は宿題やら掃除やらで忙しい。 Today I'm busy with homework, cleaning, and such.

Difference:

  • Used for a disorganized list of things that are often overwhelming or messy.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. あののは、（　　　）（　　　）、のを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. のは、の（　　　）の（　　　）、されても。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. たるもの、（　　　）（　　　）、常になが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. のは、のさ（　　　）のさ（　　　）、にだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. に際し、（　　　）（　　　）、のさに。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. （　　　）（　　　）、たちがを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. のは、（　　　）の（　　　）、人をにさせる。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. のは、（　　　）（　　　）、。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. のは、（　　　）（　　　）、のだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. システムは、（　　　）（　　　）、のものをしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. （　　　）（　　　）、をはにされるべきだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. の（　　　）（　　　）、のは常にくれていた。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. （　　　）、をことは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. なが、（　　　）（　　　）でください。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. ので、（　　　）（　　　）、もうがだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

Who we are

Japanese at Work is built by gaijins, for gaijins.

Most schools and tutors follow the same path: memorise JLPT vocabulary and study grammar that rarely appears in real workplace writing. This works if your only goal is to pass the test.

But after that, things change. Once you start working in Japan, you’re expected to read reports, follow discussions, and speak clearly about industry news and decisions—at a professional level. If you can’t, you’re quietly left out of conversations and leadership opportunities. This is the gap between JLPT Japanese and real Japanese, and most learners are left to struggle with it alone.

Japanese at Work exists to close that gap. We share content that focuses on the Japanese you actually encounter at work—across business, management, IT, marketing, product, and recruitment.

Learn at your own pace, wherever you are, without distractions, progress bars and daily push notifications. For a limited time, all of our content is free.

Read more