Expressing "not only... but also"

不但⋯⋯，而且⋯⋯ (bùdàn..., érqiě...) is a very commonly used pattern that indicates "not only, ... but also...."

Used with Single Subject

Structure

The pattern can also be used omitting 而且, and instead using adverbs like 也 and 还 in its place.

Examples

这个东西不但贵，而且难买。 Zhège dōngxi bùdàn guì, érqiě nán mǎi . This thing is not only expensive, but also hard to buy.
这道菜不但好看，也好吃。 Zhè dào cài bùdàn hǎokàn, yě hǎochī. This dish is not only good-looking, but also delicious.
她不但聪明，而且很幽默。 Tā bùdàn cōngming, érqiě hěn yōumò. She is not only smart, but also very humorous.
她不但离开了我，还拿走了我所有的钱。 Tā bùdàn líkāi le wǒ, hái názǒu le wǒ suǒyǒu de qián. Not only did she leave me, but she also took all my money.
他不但提前做完了，而且做得很好。 Tā bùdàn tíqián zuò wán le, érqiě zuò de hěn hǎo. Not only did he finish it in advance, but he did it very well.

Used with Two 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

The pattern can also be used omitting 而且, and instead using adverbs like 也 in its place.

Examples

不但大学生找工作难，而且研究生也不容易。 Bùdàn dàxuéshēng zhǎo gōngzuò nán, érqiě yánjiūshēng yě bù róngyì. Not only is it hard to find a job for undergraduates, but it's also hard for graduate students.
这个电影不但孩子们喜欢，大人也很喜欢。 Zhège diànyǐng bùdàn háizimen xǐhuan, dàren yě hěn xǐhuan. Not only do children like this movie, but adults like it too.
不但员工压力大，老板压力也很大。 Bùdàn yuángōng yālì dà, lǎobǎn yālì yě hěn dà. Not only are the employees under a lot of pressure, but the boss is under a lot of pressure too.
老师发现，不但学生说谎，而且家长也说谎。 Lǎoshī fāxiàn, bùdàn xuéshēng shuōhuǎng, érqiě jiāzhǎng yě shuōhuǎng. The teacher found that not only did the student lie, but their parents did too.
不但老百姓害怕这些人，而且警察也害怕。 Bùdàn lǎobǎixìng hàipà zhèxiē rén, érqiě jǐngchá yě hàipà. Not only do the ordinary people fear these people, but the police also fear them too.

Expressing "not only... but also"

Contents

Used with Single Subject

Structure

Examples

Used with Two Subjects

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites