LEARN + CHINESE / 86 of 300 HSK 3
Not Only This 不光…而且
Use 不但/不仅 at the start of the first point, then add 而且 or 还 to introduce the second. The second point often adds information that is just as important, or even more surprising.
她不但会说中文，而且说得很流利。
Tā búdàn huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě shuō de hěn liúlì.
She not only speaks Chinese, but speaks it fluently.
不但 introduces the first fact; 而且 adds the second. The same verb, 说, appears again so the contrast is easy to hear.
这家饭店不光菜好吃，而且服务也很好。
Zhè jiā fàndiàn bùguāng cài hǎochī, érqiě fúwù yě hěn hǎo.
The food at this restaurant is good, and the service is great too.
不光…而且… works the same way. Adding 也 before 很好 makes the second positive point explicit.
这家餐厅不仅提供早餐，还免费送咖啡。
Zhè jiā cāntīng bùjǐn tígōng zǎocān, hái miǎnfèi sòng kāfēi.
This café serves breakfast and gives away coffee for free as well.
不仅 can pair with 还 instead of 而且. The pattern is useful when you are adding a second service, feature, or reason.
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
búdàn | not only |
érqiě | but also; moreover |
huì | can; know how to |
shuō | to speak; say |
Zhōngwén | Chinese language |
liúlì | fluent |
bùguāng | not only |
fàndiàn | restaurant |
cài | food; dish |
hǎochī | tasty |
fúwù | service |
yě | also; too |
bùjǐn | not only |
tígōng | to provide |
zǎocān | breakfast |
hái | also; in addition |
miǎnfèi | free of charge |
sòng | to give; deliver |
kāfēi | coffee |
cāntīng | restaurant; café |
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