不但…而且… (bùdàn...érqiě...) — not only... but also...

不但…而且… (bùdàn...érqiě...)

不但…而且… is a correlative conjunction pattern used to link two clauses where the second adds to or escalates the first. The subject can appear before 不但 (shared subject) or in each clause separately (different subjects).

Structure

[Subject] + 不但 + [Clause 1] + 而且 + [Clause 2]

When the subject is shared, it goes before 不但. When the two clauses have different subjects, each clause carries its own subject.

Example Sentences

他不但会说英语，而且会说西班牙语。 Tā bùdàn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, érqiě huì shuō Xībānyáyǔ. He can not only speak English but also Spanish.

这本书不但有意思，而且对我帮助很大。 Zhè běn shū bùdàn yǒu yìsi, érqiě duì wǒ bāngzhù hěn dà. This book is not only interesting but also very helpful to me.

不但孩子们喜欢这部电影，而且大人们也很喜欢。 Bùdàn háizimen xǐhuān zhè bù diànyǐng, érqiě dàrénmen yě hěn xǐhuān. Not only do children like this movie, but adults enjoy it too.

她不但完成了任务，而且做得非常出色。 Tā bùdàn wánchéng le rènwù, érqiě zuò de fēicháng chūsè. She not only completed the task but also did it exceptionally well.

Collocations

Memory Hook

不但 cancels the idea of "merely"; 而且 then adds "and on top of that." Think of it as stacking floors: the first clause is already impressive, then 而且 adds another story above it.