Chinese Grammar: 不但... 而且/还...
HSK 3-4不但... 而且/还...Reach for this when you're stacking two related qualities or actions and the second one adds force to the first — 'not only X, but also Y.' Use it to escalate praise ('she's not only smart, she's also kind'), warn about layered problems ('the food is not only expensive, it's also bad'), or build any 'and on top of that...' argument. Everyday register — common in conversation, writing, and persuasive copy. 而且 leans slightly more written; 还 is the casual-speech default.
StructureSubject + 不但 + Clause A，而且/还 + Clause B
búdàn... érqiě / hái...
How to Think About It不但 sets up an expectation: 'this is going to keep going.' 而且 or 还 then delivers the second item with a slight upgrade in force. It's not just addition (which 和 would handle) — it's escalation. 'She's not only smart' implies 'and that's already impressive'; 'but also kind' caps it. The two clauses usually share the same subject; if subjects differ, 不但 jumps to the front of the whole sentence: 不但我去了，他也去了.
Examples她不但聪明，而且很努力。
Tā búdàn cōngmíng, érqiě hěn nǔlì.
She's not only smart, she's also hardworking.
这家餐厅不但贵，还不好吃。
Zhè jiā cāntīng búdàn guì, hái bù hǎochī.
This restaurant isn't just expensive, it's also bad.
不但他来了，他全家都来了。
Búdàn tā lái le, tā quánjiā dōu lái le.
Not only did he come, his whole family came too.
学中文不但有用，而且很有意思。
Xué Zhōngwén búdàn yǒuyòng, érqiě hěn yǒu yìsi.
Studying Chinese isn't just useful, it's also really interesting.
Common MistakeLearners drop 而且/还 or use 但是 in the second clause, breaking the additive escalation. 不但 is one half of a pair — it needs its partner.
❌ Wrong他不但聪明，但是很努力。
✅ Right他不但聪明，而且很努力。
Don't Confuse With不仅...而且...
Same meaning, slightly more formal/written. 不仅 is the literary cousin of 不但 — interchangeable in most contexts; pick 不仅 for essays, 不但 for everyday.
既...又...
'Both X and Y' — pure parallel, no escalation. Use when both qualities sit at the same level ('既便宜又好吃' — cheap AND tasty). 不但...而且... implies the second outweighs or extends the first.
除了...以外，还...
'Besides X, also Y' — focuses on what's added beyond X. 不但...而且... focuses on the escalation; 除了...还 focuses on inclusion of an extra item.
PracticeFill in: 他 ___ 会说中文， ___ 会写汉字。
Show answer不但 / 还
Arrange: 不但 / 这部电影 / 而且 / 有意思 / 很 / 很 / 感人
Show answer这部电影不但很有意思，而且很感人。
Translate to Chinese: He's not only good at his job, he's also very kind to colleagues.
Show answer他不但工作做得很好，而且对同事也很好。
Use 不但...而且... to describe a place, person, or product with two stacked qualities.
Show answer这家咖啡店不但环境好，而且咖啡也很好喝。
Hear It in Real EpisodesThis pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Brazilian Women Tell BBC How Epstein and Brunel's Modelling Trap Workedmedium这种做法不但违法而且非常狡猾。
Related Grammar Patterns不管...都...Reach for this when you want to say 'no matter what/who/when...像...一样Reach for this when you want to compare one thing to another...X 越来越 + AdjUse 越来越 + adjective to say something is getting more and mor...光是...，就...Reach for 光是...就... when you want to dramatize a number or a...虽然……但是/但……Reach for 虽然...但是/但... when you want to admit one thing is t...X 既是 ... 也是 ...Reach for this when one subject holds two identities or role...Acquire by listening
Hear 不但... 而且/还... in real Chinese, not in a textbook.Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.
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