HSKReadyGet the appHSK 3 · Sentence types › Complex sentences › Progressive clauses
Using 不但……，而且…… to Add a Stronger Point
Use 不但……，而且…… to connect two related facts and present the second as an additional, often stronger or more noteworthy point. Learn where to place the subject, how to form both clauses, and when simple addition is a better fit.
林慧不但会做饭，而且做得很好。
A shared subject comes first; the second clause adds a positive assessment of the same ability.
Read the full explanation and examples
Meaning: an added point with extra weight
不但……，而且…… (bùdàn……, érqiě……) means “not only……, but also……” or “not only……, but even……” It links two related facts about a person, thing, or situation. The second clause adds information and often sounds like a stronger, more surprising, or more useful point. It need not be dramatic: the speaker simply gives the second fact extra weight. The outline places this pattern under level 3 compound sentences, specifically progressive compound sentences. That identifies the lesson scope and level; it does not establish which exam version any test centre currently administers.
林慧不但会做饭，而且做得很好。
A shared subject comes first; the second clause adds a positive assessment of the same ability.
这家图书馆不但很安静，而且离我家很近。
The second clause adds a practical benefit.
In the first example, cooking is one ability; doing it very well adds the more notable detail. In the second, quietness is joined by a practical advantage: the library is close to the speaker’s home. The clauses can describe qualities, abilities, events, or other connected information. Their relationship should make sense to the listener; the pattern is not a license to join two unrelated facts.
Formation and subject placement
A useful starting frame is subject + 不但 + first clause, 而且 + second clause. The subject is often stated once before 不但 when both clauses describe the same person or thing. The second clause may repeat a verb or other words when that makes the sentence clearer; it does not have to copy the first clause’s wording.
我的同事不但会说中文，而且会说日语。
Repeating 会说 in the second clause keeps the two abilities parallel.
The repeated 会说 keeps the two abilities parallel. With different subjects, put 不但 before the first subject: 不但林慧会做饭，而且她的弟弟也会做饭. This extends the ability from Lin Hui to her brother. With one shared subject, 林慧不但……而且…… is the usual starting frame; repeating a subject or verb is allowed when useful.
When to use it
Use the pattern when you want to tell someone one relevant fact and then add another that strengthens the picture. It works in conversation and in neutral written statements. Choose details that are genuinely connected: a feature plus an advantage, one ability plus another, or an event followed by an additional result or detail.
我们不但坐火车去了杭州，而且在那里住了三天。
The travel detail and the length of the stay describe the same trip.
The trip sentence first says how the group travelled to Hangzhou, then adds how long they stayed there. Both details help describe the same trip. This pattern is mainly used to make statements. A question is possible when the whole sentence is framed as a question, but 不但……，而且…… does not itself ask one; the listener still needs a clear question word or question form. For example, you could ask whether someone not only speaks Chinese but also speaks Japanese by adding a suitable question ending. At this level, practise the statement pattern first.
A useful contrast and common trap
A plain sequence gives two items without necessarily presenting the second as a stronger addition. 不但……，而且…… does more: it guides the listener to hear the second fact as extending or heightening the first. Compare the purpose of the structure before choosing it. Use the pattern when the second point matters as an extra; use simple coordination when you merely want to report two facts at the same level.
林慧不但不会做饭，而且不愿意学。
Both clauses are negative: the second adds unwillingness to the lack of ability. The construction does not require praise.
The final example is a valid negative progression: 林慧不但不会做饭，而且不愿意学. The speaker adds unwillingness to learn to the lack of ability. This construction can strengthen criticism as well as praise. For a genuine contrast, 林慧会做饭，但是做得不太好 says she can cook but does not do it very well; choose the relation you actually mean.
A quick planning method
To form your own sentence, first choose one person, thing, or situation as the shared topic. Write a clear first fact after 不但. Then ask what related detail would add something the listener should notice, and put it after 而且. Read the sentence once without the two linking words: if the facts still make sense together, the connection is likely clear. Finally, check that you have not accidentally changed topics between clauses.
- State one relevant fact after 不但.
- Add a connected, more noteworthy point after 而且.
- Use a shared subject when both clauses describe the same topic; repeat words only when clarity calls for them.
- If the second clause merely lists an equal item, consider plain coordination instead.
The key choice is not whether the second clause is objectively more important. It is whether you want to present it as an addition with extra emphasis. That qualification keeps the pattern natural: the second clause often feels stronger, but it does not have to be a surprising fact or a formally “greater” one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to repeat the subject after 而且?
No. When both clauses describe the same topic, a subject before 不但 often covers both. You may repeat a subject or verb when it makes the sentence clearer or when the second clause needs its own subject.
Must the second clause always be more important?
No. It often sounds stronger, more noteworthy, or more useful, but the pattern can simply mark an additional related point. The speaker’s emphasis depends on context.
Can I use the pattern in a question?
The pattern can appear inside a question, but it does not create a question by itself. Add a clear question form or question word, and make sure the listener can tell what information you are asking for.
