不仅……而且……
Reach for this when the second item ESCALATES the first — 'not only X, but even Y.' It's the progressive sibling of 不仅...也...: instead of just adding a parallel point, you're climbing higher. 'He's not only rich, he's the richest man in town.' 'The film didn't just succeed, it broke every record.' Slightly formal register, common in news, reviews, and emphatic argument.
Structure
不仅 [A]，而且 [STRONGER / ADDITIONAL B]
bùjǐn... érqiě...
How to Think About It
不仅 sets up a first claim; 而且 introduces a step UP — something stronger, more surprising, or more decisive. Compare with 不仅...也..., which keeps the two clauses on equal footing. Pick 而且 when you want the second clause to land with more weight. The second clause often contains 还 or 更 to underline the escalation: 不仅...而且还..., 不仅...而且更....
Examples
他不仅会说中文，而且说得比中国人还好。
Tā bùjǐn huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě shuō de bǐ Zhōngguó rén hái hǎo.
He doesn't just speak Chinese — he speaks it better than a native.
这本书不仅有趣，而且让人重新思考自己的生活。
Zhè běn shū bùjǐn yǒuqù, érqiě ràng rén chóngxīn sīkǎo zìjǐ de shēnghuó.
This book isn't just fun — it makes you rethink your own life.
这次比赛他不仅参加了，而且拿了第一名。
Zhè cì bǐsài tā bùjǐn cānjiā le, érqiě ná le dì yī míng.
He didn't just take part in the competition — he won first place.
Common Mistake
Learners use 不仅...而且... for two items that are merely parallel, losing the 'climbing higher' force. If the second clause isn't actually stronger or more decisive, downgrade to 不仅...也... or 不只是...也....
他不仅喜欢苹果，而且喜欢香蕉。
他不仅喜欢苹果，而且每天都要吃三个。
Don't Confuse With
不仅...也...
Parallel, equal footing. Pick 也 when the second item is just another example; pick 而且 when it climbs higher.
不但...而且...
Near-identical to 不仅...而且..., slightly more spoken. They're interchangeable in most contexts.
并且
Just 'and also' or 'in addition' — connects without the 'not only' setup. 不仅...而且... needs the 'beyond just A' frame at the start.
Practice
Fill in: 他____仅是老师，而且是校长。
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不
Fill in: 这部电影不仅好看，____且让人感动。
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而
Arrange: 而且 / 不仅 / 便宜 / 这个 / 好吃 / 很 / 也 / ，
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这个不仅便宜，而且也很好吃。
Translate to Chinese: She not only passed the exam, she got the highest score.
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她不仅通过了考试，而且拿了最高分。
Use 不仅...而且... to make an escalating claim about a person or product.
Show answer
这个手机不仅价格便宜，而且功能比很多贵的还多。
Hear It in Real Episodes
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 不仅……而且…… 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, no card.