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...."

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

• 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 this student speak Chinese, but 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.

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