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...."

Used with One Subject

Structure

Subj. + 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

• 这 种 菜 不但 好吃 ， 而且 有 营养 。 Zhè zhǒng cài bùdàn hǎochī, érqiě yǒu yíngyǎng. This kind of vegetable is not only delicious, but nutritious as well.
• 她 不但 聪明 ， 而且 很 努力 。 Tā bùdàn cōngming, érqiě hěn nǔlì. She is not only smart, but also very hardworking.
• 他 不但 做 完 了 ， 而且 做 得 非常 好 。 Tā bùdàn zuò wán le, érqiě zuò de fēicháng hǎo. Not only did he finish, but he also did it extremely well.

Used with Two Different Subjects

When there is only one subject with 不但⋯⋯而且⋯⋯, the subject has to come at the beginning of the sentence, before both 不但 and 而且. When using two different subjects, however, you need to put one after 不但 and one after 而且.

Structure

So here's the pattern with one subject:

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

And here's the pattern with two subjects:

不但 + Subj. 1 + Adj. / Verb， 而且 + Subj. 2 + Adj. / Verb

Examples

• 不但 我 会 做饭，而且 会 洗衣服。One subject, but in the wrong placeNot only can I cook, but I can also do the laundry.
• 我 不但 会 做饭，而且 会 洗衣服。One subjectNot only can I cook, but I can also do the laundry.
• 我 不但 会 做饭，而且 我妹妹 也会 做饭。Two subjects, first one in the wrong placeNot only can I cook, but my little sister can as well.
• 不但 我 会 做饭，而且 我妹妹 也会 做饭。Two subjectsNot only can I cook, but my little sister can as well.

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