HSK 4Connectors

On One Hand...On the Other (一方面...一方面)

Present two aspects, reasons, or sides of a situation simultaneously.

Pattern

一方面 + Aspect A, (另)一方面 + Aspect B

Explanation

一方面...一方面 (or 一方面...另一方面) is used to present two simultaneous aspects of a situation, two reasons for a decision, or two sides of an argument.

The two aspects can be complementary (both supporting the same conclusion) or contrasting (showing different sides). The second 一方面 can optionally be preceded by 另 to mean 'another aspect'.

Examples

我不想去,一方面太远,一方面太贵。

Wǒ bù xiǎng qù, yì fāngmiàn tài yuǎn, yì fāngmiàn tài guì.

I don't want to go - on one hand it's too far, on the other it's too expensive.

一方面要工作,另一方面要照顾家庭。

Yì fāngmiàn yào gōngzuò, lìng yì fāngmiàn yào zhàogù jiātíng.

On one hand I need to work, on the other I need to take care of my family.

学中文一方面是为了工作,一方面是因为兴趣。

Xué Zhōngwén yì fāngmiàn shì wèile gōngzuò, yì fāngmiàn shì yīnwèi xìngqù.

I study Chinese partly for work and partly out of interest.

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On One Hand...On the Other (一方面...一方面) — Chinese Grammar | HSK 4