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不但 / 不仅 … ,而且 / 还 / 也 … (not only … but also)
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More than one talent
- You are introducing a new classmate who is a strong student and a great athlete.
- him他not only不仅to learn学习get better好,but also而且basketball篮球to beat打(degree marker)得also也degree / adjective linker很get better好。 — "Not only is he a good student, he's also great at basketball."
not only不但 / not only不仅 A,but also而且 / still / also还 / also也 B
- not only不但 / not only不仅 A,but also而且 B = not only A, but also B; B adds a further, often stronger point.
- but also而且 can combine with still / also还 / also也: but also而且still / also还can会to sing a song唱歌. not only不仅 is a little more formal.
she她not only不仅can会speak说English英语,but also而且can会speak说French法语。

Complete: “This phone is not only cheap but also good quality.” 这个手机不仅便宜,____质量很好。
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不仅…而且….
Two subjects
- With different subjects, not only不但 / not only不仅 go before the first subject: not only不仅students学生like喜欢him他,teachers老师also也like喜欢him他。 — "Not only do the students like him, the teachers do too."
- With one subject, they follow it: him他not only不但intelligent聪明,but also而且degree / adjective linker很to make an effort努力.
not only不仅students学生like喜欢him他,teachers老师also也like喜欢him他。
With one subject, 不但 comes after the subject.
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True. With one subject, 不但 comes after it: 他不但聪明,而且很努力. With two different subjects, 不但 comes before the first subject.
Placement with one or two subjects
- One subject: subject first, then not only不但: him他not only不但…. Two subjects: not only不但 first: not only不但him他…,but also而且I / me我also也….
- The two points go the same direction; for a contrast use but但是.
Which sentence is correct for two subjects?
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With two subjects, 不仅 comes before the first one.
not only不但not不…,instead反而…
- not only不但not不 A,instead反而 B = not only not A, but (contrary to expectation) B: variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了medicine药,the illness病not only不但didn't没get better好,instead反而even more更serious重(completed / change)了.
- This variant reverses expectations instead of adding a point.
the illness病not only不但didn't没get better好,instead反而even more更serious重了。
Build: “The illness not only didn't improve, it got worse.”
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不但不/没…,反而….
Recap
- not only不但 / not only不仅 A,but also而且 / still / also还 / also也 B = not only A, but also B.
- One subject: after it; two subjects: before the first. not only不但not不…instead反而… reverses expectation.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — "Not only... but also...".
You are introducing a new classmate who is a strong student and a great athlete. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.