When using 不但 (bùdàn), it's often followed by 而且 (érqiě), 还 (hái), or 也 (yě) to complete the phrase "not only... but also...". This structure emphasizes that there are two or more aspects to a situation, and both are significant. The part after 不但 usually presents the first point, and the part after 而且/还/也 introduces an additional, often more emphatic, point. It's a great way to connect related ideas and show a fuller picture. Remember to place 不但 before the first verb or subject it modifies.
你好! Let's talk about 不但 (bù dàn), a super useful conjunction in Chinese that means 'not only... but also...'. It's one of those words that immediately makes your sentences sound more sophisticated. You'll find yourself using it all the time once you get the hang of it.
- DEFINITION
- Not only... but also...
§ Basic Structure: 不但…而且… (bù dàn… ér qiě…)
The most common way to use 不但 is with 而且 (ér qiě), which means 'moreover' or 'in addition'. This creates the classic 'not only... but also...' structure.
The general pattern is: 不但 [Clause 1], 而且 [Clause 2].
Let's look at an example:
他不但会说中文，而且会写汉字。
Translation hint: He not only can speak Chinese, but also can write Chinese characters.
Here's another one:
这个饭馆的菜不但好吃，而且很便宜。
Translation hint: This restaurant's dishes are not only delicious, but also very cheap.
§ Using 不但…还… (bù dàn… hái…) or 不但…也… (bù dàn… yě…)
Instead of 而且, you can also use 还 (hái) or 也 (yě) in the second part of the structure. They both mean 'also' or 'still', and they work similarly to 而且 to add emphasis to the second clause.
- 不但 [Clause 1], 还 [Clause 2].
- 不但 [Clause 1], 也 [Clause 2].
Example with 还:
她不但很漂亮，还很聪明。
Translation hint: She is not only very beautiful, but also very smart.
Example with 也:
学中文不但很有趣，也很有用。
Translation hint: Learning Chinese is not only interesting, but also very useful.
§ When the Subject is the Same
If the subject of both clauses is the same, 不但 usually comes after the subject. The subject does not need to be repeated in the second clause.
他不但工作努力，而且对人友善。
Translation hint: He not only works hard, but also is friendly to people.
Subject (他) -> 不但 -> Clause 1 (工作努力) -> 而且 -> Clause 2 (对人友善).
§ When the Subjects are Different
If the subjects of the two clauses are different, 不但 usually comes at the beginning of the first clause, before the first subject.
不但老师喜欢他，而且同学们也喜欢他。
Translation hint: Not only the teacher likes him, but also the classmates like him.
不但 -> Subject 1 (老师) -> Clause 1 (喜欢他) -> 而且 -> Subject 2 (同学们) -> Clause 2 (也喜欢他).
Pay attention to these subject placements. It's a common point where learners can make mistakes, but with practice, it'll become natural.
Keep practicing, and you'll be using 不但 like a native speaker in no time. 加油! (Come on! / Keep it up!)
Pronunciation Guide
- Mispronouncing the 'u' in 'bù'
- Incorrect tone for 'dàn'
Idioms & Expressions
"不但…，反而…"
Not only (negative result), but on the contrary...
他不但没有进步，反而退步了。(He not only didn't make progress, but on the contrary, he regressed.)
neutral"不但如此，而且…"
Not only that, but also...
他不但学习好，不但如此，而且体育也很好。(He not only studies well, not only that, but he's also good at sports.)
neutral"不但不…，反而…"
Not only not..., but on the contrary...
你不但不帮我，反而还添乱。(You not only don't help me, but on the contrary, you make things worse.)
neutral"不但…，还…"
Not only..., but also (emphasizing an additional action/situation)
她不但会说汉语，还会写汉字。(She not only can speak Chinese, but also can write Chinese characters.)
neutral"不但…，更…"
Not only..., but even more so...
他不但聪明，更努力。(He is not only smart, but even more so, he is hardworking.)
neutral"不但如此，甚至…"
Not only that, but even...
这个地方不但很美，不但如此，甚至冬天也能看到鲜花。(This place is not only beautiful, not only that, but you can even see flowers in winter.)
neutral"不但…，也…"
Not only..., but also...
我不但喜欢吃苹果，也喜欢吃香蕉。(I not only like to eat apples, but also like to eat bananas.)
neutral"不但如此，而且还…"
Not only that, but also...
这件衣服不但好看，不但如此，而且还很舒服。(This dress is not only good-looking, not only that, but it's also very comfortable.)
neutral"不但…，而且是…"
Not only..., but it is (emphasizing the nature/identity)
他不但是我朋友，而且是最好的朋友。(He is not only my friend, but he is my best friend.)
neutral"不但…，并且…"
Not only..., but also (more formal than 而且)
他不但完成了任务，并且做得很好。(He not only completed the task, but also did it very well.)
formalTest Yourself 48 questions
她___会说中文，而且会写汉字。
The sentence expresses two related actions, 'not only speaks Chinese' but also 'writes characters'. '不但' is the correct conjunction to use here.
这个饭店的菜___好吃，而且很便宜。
To say 'not only delicious but also cheap', '不但' is the appropriate word to introduce the first part of the 'not only... but also...' structure.
他___是我的老师，而且是我的朋友。
This sentence means 'He is not only my teacher but also my friend'. '不但' starts the first part of this two-part conjunction.
学中文___有意思，而且很有用。
Here, 'not only interesting but also useful' is the meaning. '不但' is used to link the two positive attributes.
她___喜欢唱歌，而且喜欢跳舞。
The sentence states 'She not only likes singing but also likes dancing'. '不但' introduces the first activity.
这件衣服___漂亮，而且很舒服。
To express 'not only beautiful but also comfortable', '不但' is the correct choice to begin the phrase.
Choose the correct way to say 'not only... but also...' in Chinese.
不但 (bùdàn) means 'not only' and 而且 (érqiě) means 'but also'. Together they form the 'not only... but also...' structure.
Which sentence correctly uses '不但... 而且...'?
The correct structure is 'Subject + 不但 + Verb/Adjective 1, 而且 + Verb/Adjective 2'.
How would you translate 'She is not only beautiful, but also smart'?
The phrase '不但... 而且...' is used to connect two positive attributes or actions.
The sentence '我不但会说汉语，而且会写汉字。' (Wǒ bùdàn huì shuō Hànyǔ, érqiě huì xiě Hànzì.) means 'I not only can speak Chinese, but also can write Chinese characters.'
This sentence correctly uses '不但... 而且...' to express 'not only... but also...'.
You can use '不但' without '而且' to mean 'not only... but also...'.
'不但' usually pairs with '而且' (or sometimes '还/也') to complete the 'not only... but also...' structure.
'不但' always comes before the subject of the sentence.
'不但' can come after the subject, as in '他不但喜欢狗...' (Tā bùdàn xǐhuan gǒu...), or sometimes before the subject if it applies to the whole clause.
Listen for what he likes.
Listen for her skills.
Listen for what the store sells.
Read this aloud:
我不但喜欢苹果，还喜欢香蕉。
Focus: bù dàn
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他不但学习中文，还学习英文。
Focus: hái
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
她不但聪明，而且很漂亮。
Focus: ér qiě
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a sentence using '不但...而且...' to say: 'He not only likes to eat Chinese food, but also likes to drink Chinese tea.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他不但喜欢吃中国菜，而且喜欢喝中国茶。
Write a sentence using '不但...而且...' to say: 'My older brother not only studies Chinese, but also studies English.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我哥哥不但学中文，而且学英文。
Write a sentence using '不但...而且...' to say: 'This movie is not only interesting, but also very good-looking.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这部电影不但有意思，而且很好看。
What can she do?
Read this passage:
她不但会说汉语，而且会写汉字。
What can she do?
The sentence uses '不但...而且...' to indicate two things she can do: speak Chinese and write Chinese characters.
The sentence uses '不但...而且...' to indicate two things she can do: speak Chinese and write Chinese characters.
What does this store sell?
Read this passage:
这个商店不但卖衣服，而且卖鞋子。
What does this store sell?
The sentence uses '不但...而且...' to indicate that the store sells both clothes and shoes.
The sentence uses '不但...而且...' to indicate that the store sells both clothes and shoes.
What does he like to do?
Read this passage:
他不但喜欢唱歌，而且喜欢跳舞。
What does he like to do?
The sentence uses '不但...而且...' to show that he likes both singing and dancing.
The sentence uses '不但...而且...' to show that he likes both singing and dancing.
Write a sentence using '不但' to describe someone who is good at two different things. For example, 'She is not only smart but also kind.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
她不但很聪明，也很善良。(She is not only smart but also kind.)
Create a sentence using '不但' to talk about two characteristics of a city. For example, 'This city is not only big but also beautiful.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这个城市不但很大，还很漂亮。(This city is not only big but also beautiful.)
Write a sentence using '不但' to express that something has two good qualities. For example, 'This restaurant's food is not only delicious but also cheap.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这家饭馆的菜不但好吃，而且很便宜。(This restaurant's food is not only delicious but also cheap.)
小明喜欢做什么？
Read this passage:
小明不但喜欢看书，也喜欢运动。他每天都会跑步，周末还会去游泳。他的学习成绩也非常好。
小明喜欢做什么？
文章中明确提到小明不但喜欢看书，也喜欢运动。(The passage clearly states that Xiao Ming not only likes reading but also likes sports.)
文章中明确提到小明不但喜欢看书，也喜欢运动。(The passage clearly states that Xiao Ming not only likes reading but also likes sports.)
这件衣服有什么特点？
Read this passage:
这件衣服不但好看，而且很舒服。它的颜色也很特别，我很喜欢。我想买这件衣服。
这件衣服有什么特点？
文章中提到这件衣服不但好看，而且很舒服。(The passage mentions that this piece of clothing is not only good-looking but also comfortable.)
文章中提到这件衣服不但好看，而且很舒服。(The passage mentions that this piece of clothing is not only good-looking but also comfortable.)
我的妈妈会做什么？
Read this passage:
我的妈妈不但会做饭，还会唱歌。她做的饭很好吃，唱的歌也很好听。我们都很爱她。
我的妈妈会做什么？
文章中明确提到妈妈不但会做饭，还会唱歌。(The passage clearly states that mom not only cooks but also sings.)
文章中明确提到妈妈不但会做饭，还会唱歌。(The passage clearly states that mom not only cooks but also sings.)
Listen to the sentence about someone's Chinese skills.
Listen to the sentence describing a restaurant.
Listen to the sentence about what learning Chinese requires.
Read this aloud:
学外语不但能开阔眼界，还能结交新朋友。
Focus: 不但 (bù dàn) and 而且 (ér qiě)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他不但很聪明，而且学习也很努力。
Focus: 很 (hěn) and 也 (yě)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
这个城市不但风景优美，而且交通也很便利。
Focus: 风景优美 (fēng jǐng yōu měi) and 交通便利 (jiāo tōng biàn lì)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The structure '不但... 还/也...' is used to connect two clauses, indicating 'not only... but also...'.
'不但... 而且...' is another common structure for 'not only... but also...', often emphasizing the second part.
This sentence uses '不但... 而且...' to express that learning Chinese is both interesting and helpful for work.
Write a sentence using '不但' to describe someone who is good at two different things.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
她不但会说流利的中文，而且还会弹钢琴。
Create a sentence using '不但' to express that something has more than one positive attribute.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这件衣服不但质量好，而且价格也合理。
Formulate a sentence using '不但' to indicate that a situation affects multiple parties.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这个决定不但影响了公司，而且也影响了我们的客户。
根据这段话，学习中文有什么好处？
Read this passage:
学中文不但能帮助你了解中国文化，而且还能提升你的职业竞争力。很多跨国公司都青睐会中文的员工。
根据这段话，学习中文有什么好处？
文章中明确提到“不但能帮助你了解中国文化，而且还能提升你的职业竞争力”。
文章中明确提到“不但能帮助你了解中国文化，而且还能提升你的职业竞争力”。
这段话主要描述了主人公的什么特点？
Read this passage:
他不但工作努力，而且对同事也很友善。所以大家都非常喜欢他。
这段话主要描述了主人公的什么特点？
句子中使用了“不但...而且...”来连接两个并列的特点。
句子中使用了“不但...而且...”来连接两个并列的特点。
这段话表达了对这个城市的什么看法？
Read this passage:
这个城市不但交通便利，而且环境优美，是一个非常适合居住的地方。
这段话表达了对这个城市的什么看法？
“不但...而且...”结构强调了城市交通和环境两个方面的优点。
“不但...而且...”结构强调了城市交通和环境两个方面的优点。
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
