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...."

Here's the basic structure:

Subject + 不但 + Adjective/Verb, 而且 + Adjective/Verb

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

Here are some examples:

• 她 不但 会 说 汉语，而且 会 说 日语。
• 他 不但 能 修 汽车，还 能 修 自行车。
• 啊，他 很 聪明，不但 上 了 很 好 的 大学，而且 有 很 好 的 成绩。

See also

• Many Types of "Not Only… But Also…"
• "Not only… but also" with "bujin"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (pp. 22)
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 253)