兼【jiān】

兼 joins two roles, jobs or functions that one person or thing holds at the same time. It goes between two nouns, and the pair acts as a single noun.

Before a verb

兼 also goes in front of a one-syllable verb, with the sense "as well, on top of the main job": 兼任 (hold a second post), 兼管 (be in charge of as well), 兼顾 (look after both).

兼职 – "a part-time job", or "do a job on the side" – is the word you meet most in daily life.

Keeping the pair tight

兼 already means "and also", so it takes no 也, 又 or 是 after it, and no 和 beside it.

• × 他是老师兼也是作家 → 他是老师兼作家
• × 老板和兼厨师 → 老板兼厨师

兼之, "and moreover" between clauses, is a separate point.