HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
不但…而且…: not only… but also…
不但 A 而且 B = not only A but also B. B is the stronger or further point.
Structure
- 不但 + A，而且 + B
How it works
不但 introduces one point and 而且 adds a further one: 他不但会说汉语，而且说得很好.
If both clauses share a subject, put it before 不但. If the subjects are different, 不但 goes before the first subject.
而且 can be followed by 也 or 还: 而且也很便宜.
Examples
-
这家饭馆的菜不但好吃，而且很便宜。
Zhè jiā fànguǎn de cài búdàn hǎochī, érqiě hěn piányi.
The food at this restaurant is not only good but also cheap.
-
他不但会唱歌，而且唱得很好。
Tā búdàn huì chàng gē, érqiě chàng de hěn hǎo.
He can not only sing, he sings well.
-
不但我喜欢，而且我妈妈也喜欢。
Búdàn wǒ xǐhuan, érqiě wǒ māma yě xǐhuan.
Not only do I like it, my mum likes it too.
-
这个手机不但很轻，而且很好用。
Zhège shǒujī búdàn hěn qīng, érqiě hěn hǎo yòng.
This phone is light and easy to use.
-
她不但聪明，而且很努力。
Tā búdàn cōngmíng, érqiě hěn nǔlì.
She’s not only clever but also hard-working.
Words in these examples (27)
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 饭馆 | fànguǎn | restaurant | HSK 2 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 菜 | cài | dish (of food); vegetable | HSK 1 |
| 不但 | búdàn | not only | HSK 3 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty; delicious | HSK 1 |
| 而且 | érqiě | and also; moreover | HSK 3 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 |
| 唱 | chàng | to sing | HSK 1 |
| 歌 | gē | song | HSK 1 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 |
| 妈妈 | māma | mum; mother | HSK 1 |
| 也 | yě | also; too | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 1 |
| 轻 | qīng | light (weight); gentle | HSK 4 |
| 用 | yòng | to use | HSK 3 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 聪明 | cōngmíng | clever; smart | HSK 3 |
| 努力 | nǔlì | to try hard; hard-working | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗不但他会说汉语，而且说得很好。
✓他不但会说汉语，而且说得很好。
Same subject: put it before 不但.
-
✗不但好吃，但是很便宜。
✓不但好吃，而且很便宜。
不但 pairs with 而且.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他不但会开车， 开得很好。
2. 这里的东西 便宜，而且很新鲜。
3. 不但我去，而且他 去。