Expressing "not only... but also" with "budan... erqie..."

"不但⋯⋯，而且⋯⋯" (bùdàn..., érqiě...) is a very commonly used pattern that indicates "not only, ... but also...."

Structure

Subject + 不但 + Adj./Verb, 而且 + Adj./Verb

The same subject should apply to both the first part and the second part (the part after 而且).

The pattern can also be used omitting 而且, and instead using adverbs like 也 and 还 in its place.

Examples

• 他 不但 做 完 了 所有 的 工作 ，而且 做 得 非常 好 。Not only did he finish all the work, but he also did it extremely well.
• 这 种 菜 不但 好吃 ，而且 有 营养 。This kind of vegetable is not only delicious, but nutritious as well.
• 她 不但 会 说 汉语 ，而且 会 说 日语。She can not only speak Mandarin, but can also speak Japanese.
• 这个 学生 不但 会 说 中文 ，而且 中文 说 得 很 好 。Not only can she speak Chinese, but she also speaks it well.
• 他 不但 能 修 汽车，还 能 修 自行车 。He not only can fix cars, but can also fix bicycles.
• 啊！他 很 聪明，不但 上 了 很 好 的 大学，而且 有 很 好 的 成绩。Wow. He's really smart. Not only did he go to a good university, but he also got really good grades.

Different emphasis with 不但⋯⋯而且⋯⋯

When there is only one subject with 不但⋯⋯而且⋯⋯, the subject has to come before 不但 and 而且 to stress the adjective or verb. You need to put two different subjects separately after 不但 and 而且 to stress them both.

Structure

So here's the pattern with one subject:

Subject + 不但 + Adj./Verb, 而且 + Adj./Verb

And here's the pattern with two subjects:

不但 + subject1 + Adj./Verb, 而且 + subject2 + Adj./Verb

Examples

• 我 不但 会 做饭，而且 会 洗衣服。(One subject)I can not only cook, but she can also do some washing.
• 不但 我 会 做饭，而且 我妹妹 也会 做饭。(Two subjects)Not only I can cook, but also my little sister can.

See also

• Many types of "not only… but also…"
• "Not only… but also" with "bujin"
• "In addition" as "lingwai"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 22) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 253) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 219) →buy

Websites

• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 而