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

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"不但..., 而且..." (bùdàn..., érqiě...) is a very commonly used pattern in China 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:

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

Sources and further reading

Books

  • Common Chinese Patterns 330 (NEEDS AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK)
  • Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Reader (NEEDS AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK)