Progressive Compound Sentences: 不但…而且

Chinese grammar · HSK 2 · 递进复句 · By Carson 木林森

Use 不但…而且… to add a SECOND, stronger point on top of the first — 'not only X, but also Y'.

不但 bù dàn not only (... but also ...) 而且 ér qiě (not only ...) but also

Same subject: Subject + 不但 + Adj/Verb1, 而且 + (也/还) + Adj/Verb2
他不但聪明，而且很努力。(He's not only smart, but also hardworking.)

Different subjects: 不但 + Subject1 + ..., 而且 + Subject2 + 也...
不但我喜欢这个菜，而且我朋友也喜欢。(Not only do I like this dish, but my friend does too.)

Common mistake: the second clause should ADD something bigger/more — don't use 但是 (contrast) where 而且 (addition) is meant.

Worked examples

Chinese	Pinyin	English	What it shows
这个菜不但好吃，而且便宜。	Zhège cài bùdàn hǎochī, érqiě piányi.	This dish is not only tasty, but also cheap.	Minimal frame, same subject, adjective+adjective.
他不但会说英语，而且还会说法语。	Tā bùdàn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, érqiě hái huì shuō Fǎyǔ.	He can not only speak English, but also French.	Verb phrases instead of adjectives; adds 还 in the second clause for emphasis.
不但我喜欢这个老师，而且班里的同学也都喜欢他。	Bùdàn wǒ xǐhuan zhège lǎoshī, érqiě bān lǐ de tóngxué yě dōu xǐhuan tā.	Not only do I like this teacher, but the classmates in the class all like him too.	Different subjects in each clause — 不但 moves before the first subject, and 也 appears in the second clause.

Produce this pattern without stopping to think about it. GraphChinese drills Progressive Compound Sentences across 13 exercises and schedules the review that keeps it.

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