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B1

不但…而且… — not only, but also

The 不但…而且 pattern in Chinese, the subject rule that decides where 不但 goes, and the 反而 version for when the second half is a surprise.

不但 A,而且 B

Both halves are stated, as with 因為…所以 and 雖然…但是. The second half is something further in the same direction, not a contrast.

他不但會說中文,而且說得很好。

Tā búdàn huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě shuō de hěn hǎo.

He not only speaks Chinese, he speaks it well.

這個地方不但便宜,而且很乾淨。

Zhège dìfang búdàn piányi, érqiě hěn gānjìng.

It’s not only cheap but clean.

不但 is bú dàn, with 不 taking its second tone before the fourth-tone 但.

Where 不但 goes depends on the subject

This is the rule the pattern is really about, and it is easy to state: if both halves are about the same thing, 不但 goes after the subject. If they are about different things, it goes before.

他不但會說中文,而且會寫。

Tā búdàn huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě huì xiě.

He can not only speak Chinese but write it.

不但他會說中文,而且他妹妹也會。

Búdàn tā huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě tā mèimei yě huì.

Not only can he speak Chinese, his sister can too.

不但他會說中文,而且說得很好。

他不但會說中文,而且說得很好。

Both halves are about him, so his name is said once and 不但 follows it. Putting 不但 first promises a second subject that never arrives.

When the subjects differ, the second half usually wants 也 or 還 as well — 而且他 妹妹也會 — because it is adding a second party rather than a second fact.

而且 can stand alone

Very common in speech, and it works as a plain and what’s more with no 不但 in front of it.

這兒的菜很好吃,而且不貴。

Zhèr de cài hěn hǎochī, érqiě bú guì.

The food here is good, and it isn’t expensive either.

反而 when the second half surprises

不但 does not have to lead to more of the same. Paired with 反而 it sets up an expectation and then reverses it, which is a different and very useful shape.

吃了藥不但沒好,反而更嚴重了。

Chīle yào búdàn méi hǎo, fǎn’ér gèng yánzhòng le.

The medicine didn’t help — it made it worse.

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