B1 Intermediate Conjunctions & Connectors

How to Say “On One Hand, On the Other” in Chinese (一方面……另一方面)

一方面…，(另)一方面… is the Chinese “on one hand…, on the other hand…,” used to lay out two aspects of a situation. 一方面 + [aspect 1]，(另)一方面 + [aspect 2] (一方面很方便，另一方面也容易浪费时间, “on one hand it’s convenient, on the other it’s easy to waste time”). The two aspects can point the SAME way (two pros) or PULL against each other (a trade-off), and the second half often adds 又, 也 or 还 for emphasis. 另 (“other”) on the second half is optional.

Why this trips learners up

When you want to weigh up two sides of something, Chinese has a tidy frame for it. That’s how to say “on one hand… on the other hand” in Chinese: 一方面 + [aspect 1]，(另)一方面 + [aspect 2]. 一方面 literally means “one aspect / one side,” and 另一方面 is “the other aspect.” 用手机一方面很方便，另一方面也容易浪费时间 (“using your phone is handy on one hand, but on the other it’s easy to waste time”).

Both markers are needed, like other paired frames in Chinese: you set up 一方面 and then answer it with a second 一方面 or 另一方面. The word 另 (“other”) on the second half is optional, so you’ll see both 一方面…一方面… and 一方面…另一方面…; adding 另 just makes the “other hand” more explicit.

The two aspects can agree or clash. This is the key flexibility. They can point the same way, two upsides or two downsides, reading like “and also”: 自己做饭一方面健康，一方面还能省钱 (“cooking for yourself is healthy, and it also saves money”). Or they can pull against each other, a trade-off that reads like “but on the other hand”: 他一方面想改变，一方面又害怕改变 (“on one hand he wants to change, on the other he’s afraid to”). The second half often carries 又, 也 or 还 to underline the addition or the tension.

Don’t confuse it with two look-alikes. 一方面…一方面… weighs two aspects of one thing; 一边…一边… is doing two actions at once (一边吃一边看, “eating while watching”), a different job. And 一方面 is not 在…方面 (在这方面, “in this respect”), which narrows a comment to a single domain rather than balancing two.

The structure

一方面 yì fāngmiàn Other 另一方面 lìng yì fāngmiàn Other

Colour key

Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.

Pattern Subject Verb Object Negation Adverb Function word Adjective Measure word Other

Examples in context

Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.

Tap a word to see its grammatical role.

duō 多 Adverb yùndòng 运动 Verb yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern duì 对 Verb shēntǐ 身体 Object hǎo 好 Adjective yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern yě 也 Adverb néng 能 Function word jiǎnyā 减压 Verb

Exercising more is good for your body on one hand, and relieves stress on the other. (Two upsides, repeated 一方面.)

tā 他 Subject yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern xiǎng 想 Function word cízhí 辞职 Verb yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern yòu 又 Adverb bù 不 Negation gǎn 敢 Function word

On one hand he wants to quit, on the other he doesn’t dare. (A clash, with 又.)

wǎnggòu 网购 Subject yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern hěn 很 Adverb fāngbiàn 方便 Adjective lìng yì fāngmiàn 另一方面 Pattern yě 也 Adverb róngyì 容易 Adjective mǎidào 买到 Verb jiǎhuò 假货 Object

Online shopping is convenient on one hand, but on the other it’s easy to buy fakes. (A trade-off, 另一方面 + 也.)

wǒmen 我们 Subject yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern yào 要 Function word bǎozhèng 保证 Verb zhìliàng 质量 Object lìng yì fāngmiàn 另一方面 Pattern yě 也 Adverb yào 要 Function word kòngzhì 控制 Verb chéngběn 成本 Object

We need to guarantee quality on one hand, and control costs on the other. (Two duties, subject first.)

yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern tā 他 Subject gōngzuò 工作 Verb hěn 很 Adverb nǔlì 努力 Adjective lìng yì fāngmiàn 另一方面 Pattern tā 他 Subject yě 也 Adverb hěn 很 Adverb huì 会 Function word zhàogù 照顾 Verb jiātíng 家庭 Object

On one hand he works hard, on the other he also takes good care of his family. (一方面 leading the sentence.)

zhè fèn gōngzuò 这份工作 Subject yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern gōngzī 工资 Subject hěn 很 Adverb gāo 高 Adjective lìng yì fāngmiàn 另一方面 Pattern yālì 压力 Subject yě 也 Adverb tèbié 特别 Adverb dà 大 Adjective

This job pays well on one hand, but on the other the pressure is huge. (A pro against a con, with 也.)

xué 学 Verb yì mén 一门 Measure word wàiyǔ 外语 Object yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern néng 能 Function word kāikuò 开阔 Verb yǎnjiè 眼界 Object yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern hái 还 Adverb néng 能 Function word zēngjiā 增加 Verb gōngzuò 工作 Object jīhuì 机会 Object

Learning a foreign language broadens your horizons on one hand, and adds job opportunities on the other. (Two upsides, with 还.)

zhèngfǔ 政府 Subject yì fāngmiàn 一方面 Pattern xiǎng 想 Function word fāzhǎn 发展 Verb jīngjì 经济 Object lìng yì fāngmiàn 另一方面 Pattern yòu 又 Adverb yào 要 Function word bǎohù 保护 Verb huánjìng 环境 Object hěn 很 Adverb nán 难 Adjective liǎngquán 两全 Verb

The government wants to develop the economy on one hand, and protect the environment on the other, hard to have both. (A policy trade-off, with 又.)

Common mistakes

Avoid: 一方面很方便，容易浪费时间。 yì fāngmiàn hěn fāngbiàn, róngyì làngfèi shíjiān.

Say this: 一方面很方便，另一方面容易浪费时间。 yì fāngmiàn hěn fāngbiàn, lìng yì fāngmiàn róngyì làngfèi shíjiān.

Why it happens: The frame needs 一方面 on BOTH aspects. State it once and juxtapose the rest and it falls apart: 一方面很方便，另一方面容易浪费时间, not 一方面很方便，容易浪费时间.

Avoid: 这个手机一边便宜，一边质量好。 zhège shǒujī yìbiān piányi, yìbiān zhìliàng hǎo.

Say this: 这个手机一方面便宜，另一方面质量好。 zhège shǒujī yì fāngmiàn piányi, lìng yì fāngmiàn zhìliàng hǎo.

Why it happens: 一方面…一方面… weighs two ASPECTS of one thing; for two ACTIONS at the same time, it’s 一边…一边…. “On one hand cheap, on the other good” is 一方面便宜，另一方面质量好, while “eating and watching” is 一边吃一边看.

Avoid: 另一方面便宜，一方面质量好。 lìng yì fāngmiàn piányi, yì fāngmiàn zhìliàng hǎo.

Say this: 一方面便宜，另一方面质量好。 yì fāngmiàn piányi, lìng yì fāngmiàn zhìliàng hǎo.

Why it happens: 另 (“other”) marks the SECOND aspect, 另一方面 (“on the other hand”), not the first. The first side is plain 一方面: 一方面便宜，另一方面质量好, never 另一方面便宜，一方面质量好.

Compare & contrast

一方面…一方面… = two aspects that AGREE (and also)	一方面…另一方面… = two aspects in TENSION (but on the other hand)	The difference
一方面省钱，一方面也健康。yì fāngmiàn shěng qián, yì fāngmiàn yě jiànkāng.	一方面想去，另一方面又没时间。yì fāngmiàn xiǎng qù, lìng yì fāngmiàn yòu méi shíjiān.	一方面省钱，一方面也健康 lists two upsides pointing the same way (“saves money, and it’s healthy too”). 一方面想去，另一方面又没时间 sets up a trade-off (“wants to go, but has no time”). The 也 adds; the 又 pushes back.
一方面能省时间，一方面还能提高质量。yì fāngmiàn néng shěng shíjiān, yì fāngmiàn hái néng tígāo zhìliàng.	一方面工资高，另一方面压力也大。yì fāngmiàn gōngzī gāo, lìng yì fāngmiàn yālì yě dà.	一方面能省时间，一方面还能提高质量 stacks two benefits (“saves time, and improves quality too”). 一方面工资高，另一方面压力也大 weighs a pro against a con (“the pay is good, but the pressure is high”). Same frame, agreeing or clashing.

Rule of thumbOne frame, two moods. When the two aspects point the SAME way, two pros or two cons, 一方面…一方面… just lists them, often with 也 or 还 (“and also”). When they PULL against each other, it reads “on one hand…, on the other…,” often with 又 and a 另一方面. The words are the same; the emphasis adverb and the meaning set the tone.

Try it yourself

Say “On one hand it’s cheap, on the other the quality is good too.” Use 一方面…，另一方面…: 一方面便宜，另一方面质量也好。

Related patterns

Quick reference card

How to Say “On One Hand, On the Other” in Chinese (一方面……另一方面) grammar.merrymandarin.com

A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.

Structure

一方面 + Other + 另一方面 + Other

Example

多运动一方面对身体好一方面也能减压

Exercising more is good for your body on one hand, and relieves stress on the other. (Two upsides, repeated 一方面.)

Watch out

✗ 一方面很方便，容易浪费时间。 → ✓ 一方面很方便，另一方面容易浪费时间。