不但……还……
Reach for this when you want to stack two true qualities or actions on the same subject — 'not only X, but also Y.' The first clause states what's already true, and 还 piles on a second fact that's often more impressive, more surprising, or one notch beyond expectation. It's the everyday spoken version of 'not only... but also...' and shows up constantly in product reviews, descriptions of people, and praise.
Structure
不但 [FACT 1], 还 [FACT 2]
búdàn... hái...
How to Think About It
不但...还... is additive escalation — both halves describe the same subject, and the second is meant to feel like a bonus on top. The subject usually appears once at the front and is shared by both clauses; if you put a new subject after 还, the sentence collapses. Think of 还 as 'and on top of that' — it carries the same energy as English 'on top of being smart, she's funny.'
Examples
这家店的菜不但便宜, 还很好吃。
Zhè jiā diàn de cài búdàn piányi, hái hěn hǎochī.
The food at this place isn't just cheap, it's also delicious.
他不但会弹钢琴, 还会拉小提琴。
Tā búdàn huì tán gāngqín, hái huì lā xiǎotíqín.
He doesn't just play piano, he also plays violin.
她不但是医生, 还是作家。
Tā búdàn shì yīshēng, hái shì zuòjiā.
She isn't just a doctor, she's also a writer.
Common Mistake
Learners forget that the subject stays the same across both halves and either repeat it pointlessly or swap in a new one — which breaks the pattern. 还 has to land on the same person/thing that 不但 introduced.
他不但会说中文, 还我会说英文。
他不但会说中文, 还会说英文。
Don't Confuse With
不但……而且……
Same shape, slightly more written/formal register. 而且 sounds polished and is preferred in essays; 还 is what you hear in conversation. Meaning is identical.
不仅……也……
Bookish twin of 不但...还.... 也 can connect different subjects ('not only X, but also Y did Z'), while 还 strongly prefers a shared subject.
不是……而是……
Looks similar but does the opposite job: it CORRECTS the first claim instead of adding to it. With 不但...还... the first clause is true; with 不是...而是... the first clause is false.
Practice
这部电影 ___ 好看, 还很感人。
Show answer
不但
他不但聪明, ___ 很努力。
Show answer
还
Put in order: [不但 / 还 / 漂亮 / 她 / 很 / 聪明 / 很]
Show answer
她不但很漂亮, 还很聪明。
Translate to Chinese: 'This phone isn't just cheap, it's also fast.'
Show answer
这部手机不但便宜, 还很快。
Write one sentence about a friend or place using 不但...还..., stacking two positive qualities.
Show answer
Example answer: 我的朋友不但会做饭, 还会做甜点。 (My friend doesn't just cook, she also makes desserts.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode. Press play to hear the sentence:
它不但给建议，还会像老师一样鼓励你。
It not only gives advice but also encourages you like a teacher.
Doubao AI Gives Fashion Advice to Chinese YouthIntermediate
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 不但……还…… in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start.