If you’ve ever wanted to say “both” in Japanese, you might wonder if there’s a direct equivalent to the English word.
The good news is that Japanese has several natural ways to express “both,” and each one is used in a slightly different situation.
In this guide, you’ll learn the three most common expressions:
- AもBも – Both A and B
- AとBの両方（りょうほう） – Both A and B (with emphasis)
- どちらも – Both (of the two options)
Let’s dive in!
1. AもBも (The Most Common Way)
The easiest and most common way to say “both A and B” is:
AもBも
It literally means “A also, B also,” but together it translates as “both A and B.”
Structure
Aも Bも + sentence
Examples
日本語も英語も話せます。
I can speak both Japanese and English.
犬も猫も好きです。
I like both dogs and cats.
父も母も仕事です。
Both my father and mother are at work.
This is the expression you’ll hear most often in everyday Japanese.
2. AとBの両方 (Adding Emphasis)
If you want to emphasize both, use:
AとBの両方
両方 literally means “both” or “both sides.”
Structure
AとBの両方 + を / が…
Examples
日本語と英語の両方を勉強しています。
I’m studying both Japanese and English.
コーヒーと紅茶の両方が好きです。
I like both coffee and tea.
土曜日と日曜日の両方働きます。
I work both Saturday and Sunday.
Compared to AもBも, this expression sounds slightly more formal and is common in writing.
3. どちらも (Both of the Two)
Another useful expression is:
どちらも
Unlike the previous patterns, どちらも is used when the two choices have already been mentioned. Instead of repeating both nouns, you simply say どちらも.
Examples
A: コーヒーと紅茶、どちらが好きですか。
Which do you like, coffee or tea?
B: どちらも好きです。
I like both.
A: 日本語と英語、どちらを話せますか。
Can you speak Japanese or English?
B: どちらも話せます。
I can speak both.
Think of どちらも as meaning:
“Both of those.”
It’s perfect when you’re answering a question about two options.
💡 Note: You can also answer with 両方好きです or 両方話せます. Both are completely natural. In conversation, どちらも is more directly tied to a どちら (“which of the two?”) question, while 両方 simply emphasizes both. Native speakers use both expressions frequently.
4. “Neither A nor B”
Here’s something interesting!
The pattern AもBも is also used to mean “neither A nor B.” The meaning changes depending on whether the sentence is positive or negative.
Positive
犬も猫も好きです。
I like both dogs and cats.
Negative
犬も猫も好きじゃありません。
I like neither dogs nor cats.
Another example:
日本語も英語も話せません。
I can speak neither Japanese nor English.
So remember:
- Positive sentence = Both
- Negative sentence = Neither
Common Mistakes
❌ 日本語と英語も話せます。
Only one noun uses も, so this sounds unnatural.
✅ 日本語も英語も話せます。
Both nouns need も.
❌ どちらも犬と猫が好きです。
This is unnatural because どちらも doesn’t introduce the two items.
✅ 犬も猫も好きです。
or
犬と猫、どちらが好きですか。
どちらも好きです。
Use どちらも only after the two choices have already been mentioned.
Which One Should You Use?
| Expression | Meaning | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|
| AもBも | Both A and B | Mentioning both items directly |
| AとBの両方（りょうほう） | Both A and B | Adding emphasis or sounding more formal |
| どちらも | Both (of the two) | Answering a question about two options |
Practice
Translate these sentences into Japanese.
- I like both sushi and ramen.
- Both my brother and sister live in Tokyo.
- I can read both hiragana and katakana.
- I can speak both.
- I don’t have either time or money.
Answers
- 寿司もラーメンも好きです。
- 兄も姉も東京に住んでいます。
- ひらがなもカタカナも読めます。
- どちらも話せます。 (If two languages have already been mentioned.)
- 時間もお金もありません。
Key Takeaways
- AもBも is the most common and natural way to say “both A and B.”
- AとBの両方（りょうほう） emphasizes both and sounds slightly more formal.
- どちらも means “both of the two options” and is used when the choices have already been mentioned.
- AもBも with a negative verb means “neither A nor B.”
- Make sure to use も after both nouns, not just one.
Once you master these three expressions, you’ll be able to talk naturally about your preferences, abilities, family, hobbies, and much more in Japanese!
