Complex Sentences: 不仅…还…, 只有…才…, 虽然…但是…
Complex sentences join two clauses with a paired pattern that sets their logical link. At HSK 3 these are 不仅…还 (not only, but also), 只有…才 (only if) and 虽然…但是 (although, but).
2. 只有…才… (zhǐ yǒu … cái …) — Only if … then …
Structure: 只有 + Condition + (Subject) + 才 + Result
✅ 只有努力学习，才能考好。(Only by studying hard can you do well on exams.)
3. 虽然…但是… (suī rán … dàn shì …) — Although … nevertheless …
Structure: 虽然 + Fact + 但是 + Contrast
✅ 虽然天气很冷，但是她还是去跑步了。(Although the weather was cold, she still went running.)
Key mistake: Don't use 虽然 and 但是 in the same clause about the same idea — they must contrast.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他不仅学习好，还非常有礼貌。 | Tā bù jǐn xué xí hǎo, hái fēi cháng yǒu lǐ mào. | He is not only a good student but also very polite. | 不仅…还… connecting two positive qualities of the same subject |
| 只有多练习，才能学好汉语。 | Zhǐ yǒu duō liàn xí, cái néng xué hǎo Hàn yǔ. | Only through lots of practice can one learn Chinese well. | 只有…才… expressing a necessary condition; subject omitted when general |
| 虽然这道题很难，但是我还是做出来了。 | Suī rán zhè dào tí hěn nán, dàn shì wǒ hái shì zuò chū lái le. | Although this problem was very difficult, I still managed to solve it. | 虽然…但是… with 还是 reinforcing the contrast; 做出来 = result complement |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
不仅…还 (bù jǐn … hái)
Adds a second point on top of the first, not only but also.
Structure: 不仅 + clause 1, 还 + clause 2
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这家饭馆不仅便宜，还很干净。 | Zhè jiā fàn guǎn bù jǐn pián yi, hái hěn gān jìng. | This restaurant is not only cheap but also clean. |
| 她不仅会说英语，还会说日语。 | Tā bù jǐn huì shuō yīng yǔ, hái huì shuō rì yǔ. | She can speak not only English but also Japanese. |
| 他不仅送我回家，还帮我拿了行李。 | Tā bù jǐn sòng wǒ huí jiā, hái bāng wǒ ná le xíng lǐ. | He not only took me home but also carried my luggage. |
Not: 他不仅会唱歌，但是还会跳舞。 Do not add 但是; the second half simply uses 还.
只有…才 (zhǐ yǒu … cái)
Gives the only condition under which something happens.
Structure: 只有 + condition, 才 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 只有天天练习，才能说得流利。 | Zhǐ yǒu tiān tiān liàn xí, cái néng shuō de liú lì. | Only by practising every day can you speak fluently. |
| 只有你亲自去，他才会同意。 | Zhǐ yǒu nǐ qīn zì qù, tā cái huì tóng yì. | Only if you go yourself will he agree. |
| 只有休息好了，才有力气学习。 | Zhǐ yǒu xiū xī hǎo le, cái yǒu lì qì xué xí. | Only when you have rested well do you have the strength to study. |
Not: 只有多喝水，就会好。 只有 pairs with 才, not 就; 就 goes with 只要.
虽然…但是 (suī rán … dàn shì)
Admits one fact and then states a contrast, although but.
Structure: 虽然 + clause 1, 但是 + clause 2
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 虽然天气很冷，但是很多人还在外面跑步。 | Suī rán tiān qì hěn lěng, dàn shì hěn duō rén hái zài wài miàn pǎo bù. | Although it is cold, many people are still jogging outside. |
| 虽然他才学了半年，但是说得很不错。 | Suī rán tā cái xué le bàn nián, dàn shì shuō de hěn bú cuò. | Although he has studied for only half a year, he speaks quite well. |
| 虽然我很累，但是还是想把作业做完。 | Suī rán wǒ hěn lèi, dàn shì hái shì xiǎng bǎ zuò yè zuò wán. | Although I am tired, I still want to finish my homework. |
Not: 虽然下雨，所以我们还是去了。 虽然 pairs with 但是 or 可是, not 所以.
虽然…但是 is also explained in: Concessive Compound: 虽然…但是/可是, 不过 (HSK 2) · 虽然…但是…: although…but (HSK 4).
Compared side by side: 只有…才 vs 只要…就.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Complex Sentences among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
The same pattern at other levels
- Complex Sentences — HSK 5
Questions about Complex Sentences
What does 复句 (Complex Sentences) mean in Chinese?
Complex sentences join two clauses with a paired pattern that sets their logical link. At HSK 3 these are 不仅…还 (not only, but also), 只有…才 (only if) and 虽然…但是 (although, but). It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 复句 (Complex Sentences) in a sentence?
他不仅学习好，还非常有礼貌。 — Tā bù jǐn xué xí hǎo, hái fēi cháng yǒu lǐ mào. — He is not only a good student but also very polite. 不仅…还… connecting two positive qualities of the same subject.
What do you need to know before 复句 (Complex Sentences)?
Time Adverbs (HSK 3), Concessive Compound (HSK 2). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 复句 (Complex Sentences) lead to?
不但…而且… (HSK 4), 只要/只有…才… (HSK 4). Each of them names 复句 (Complex Sentences) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 只有…才 and 只要…就?
只有…才 states the only condition, while 只要…就 states a sufficient one. 只有努力才能成功 means effort is required. 只要努力就能成功 means effort is enough.
Can I drop 虽然 or 但是?
In speech people often keep just one of them, but never replace 但是 with 所以. The full pair 虽然…但是 is the safest form to write.
Complex Sentences is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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