といい～といい

The structure といい～といい is used to highlight two representative examples from a broader category, then make an overall evaluation or judgment about something. It conveys the meaning of "whether it be … or …," "both … and …," or "not only … but also …." The speaker picks two notable aspects and uses them to support a general comment – often praise, criticism, or an overall impression.

The two items cited with といい are typically of the same category (e.g., two qualities, two people, two aspects of the same thing), and together they reinforce the speaker's conclusion stated in the main clause.

Usage notes

• The two items listed with といい are representative; they imply that other aspects also support the conclusion. The speaker is saying "just looking at X and Y alone, my conclusion holds – and there's probably more."

• The final clause typically expresses a strong subjective evaluation – positive or negative.

  せいかく性格といいがいけん外見といい、かれ彼はりそうてき理想的なひと人だ。

  Whether it be his personality or his looks, he is an ideal person.
  たいど態度といいことばづかい言葉遣いといい、あのてんいん店員はひどい。

  Both his attitude and his language – that clerk is terrible.

• This pattern is most natural with nouns, though nominalized verbs and adjectives can also appear. It is a formal/written expression commonly found in essays, reviews, and emphatic speech.

Comparison with も～も

While も〜～も simply lists items ("both A and B"), といい～といい adds the nuance of citing examples to justify a judgment. It is more evaluative and rhetorical.