How to use 兼
Role 1 + 兼 + role 2; subject + 兼任 / 兼做 + roles
兼 combines roles, responsibilities, or functions held by the same person or thing. It often connects job titles directly or works within expressions about performing more than one duty. The meaning is not simply that two unrelated actions happen at the same moment; it emphasizes their coexistence within one set of identities or responsibilities.
A common pattern places 兼 between two role nouns, while verbal combinations such as 兼任 or 兼做 describe holding or performing the roles. Keep the linked items compatible: two titles can form a coordinated description, whereas activities may need a fuller verb phrase. This concise wording often suits biographies, credits, organizational descriptions, and explanations of a position's scope.
Examples with pinyin and English
她是作家兼老师。
She is both a writer and a teacher.
兼 connects two roles held by the same person.
他在公司兼任经理和会计。
He serves as both manager and accountant at the company.
兼任 explicitly describes holding more than one position.
这张桌子可以兼作书桌和餐桌。
This table can serve as both a desk and a dining table.
兼作 extends the pattern to combined functions.
What to remember
- Use 兼 to combine roles or functions.
- Keep the connected titles or duties compatible.
- Distinguish combined responsibilities from any two simultaneous actions.
Practise the pattern
Use one example as a model. Change the people, objects or situation, keeping the grammar pattern in the same order. Read the explanation again to check how your sentence uses the construction.
Look up the grammar words
Source and editorial notes
Explanation and examples written for Laowai using the grammar curriculum as a topic reference. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.