‘兼而有之’ is a classical four-character idiom meaning 'to possess both (qualities, traits, or features) simultaneously.' Literally, 兼 means 'to combine' or 'to hold concurrently,' 而 serves as a grammatical conjunction linking actions or states, 有 means 'to have,' and 之 is a pronoun meaning 'them/it' — together forming a compact expression for dual possession. It emphasizes that two seemingly contrasting or distinct attributes coexist in one person, thing, or situation.

This phrase is commonly used in formal writing, literary contexts, or thoughtful speech to highlight balance or complexity — for instance, describing someone who is both gentle and decisive, or a policy that achieves efficiency and fairness. It carries a slightly elevated, refined tone and rarely appears in casual conversation. While it can describe tangible things, it most often refers to abstract qualities like virtues, emotions, or characteristics.