不仅...还...
Reach for 不仅...还... when you want to add a second fact on top of the first — 'not only X, but also Y.' Both halves are real, parallel claims about the same subject; the second one piles on rather than corrects. You'll hear it in product copy, resumes, news write-ups, and casual praise where someone deserves credit for multiple things. The subject usually appears once, before 不仅, then both clauses share it. 还 sits before the second verb to flag the addition.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 不仅 [VERB PHRASE 1]，还 [VERB PHRASE 2]
bùjǐn... hái...
How to Think About It
Two parallel achievements stacked on one subject. The 还 must hug the verb in the second clause — moving it to the front of the clause (before the subject) sounds like English-translated Chinese. If you find the second clause introduces a deeper meaning rather than just another fact, switch to 不仅仅是...更是... instead. Keep 不仅...还... for genuine addition, not rhetorical escalation.
Examples
她不仅长得漂亮，还很聪明。
Tā bùjǐn zhǎng de piàoliang, hái hěn cōngming.
She's not only beautiful, but also very smart.
这家餐厅不仅菜好吃，还服务好。
Zhè jiā cāntīng bùjǐn cài hǎochī, hái fúwù hǎo.
This restaurant not only has good food, the service is also good.
他不仅会弹钢琴，还会拉小提琴。
Tā bùjǐn huì tán gāngqín, hái huì lā xiǎotíqín.
He can not only play the piano, but also the violin.
Common Mistake
Learners repeat the subject in the second clause, producing 不仅 he X, he 还 Y. With a single shared subject, Chinese drops the repeat — keeping it makes the sentence wordy and slightly unnatural.
他不仅会说英语，他还会说法语。
他不仅会说英语，还会说法语。
Don't Confuse With
不仅...而且...
Same meaning, slightly more formal. 还 leans conversational; 而且 leans written. Both are correct.
不仅仅是...更是...
Use this when the second clause raises the meaning to a deeper level. 不仅...还... is for parallel addition, not escalation.
除了...还...
Use 除了...还... when the first item is already taken for granted and you're adding a second. 不仅...还... presents both items as new claims.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 这本书 ___ 有趣，还很有用。
Show answer
不仅
Fill in the blank: 他不仅会做饭，___ 会做甜点。
Show answer
还
Arrange: 不仅 / 便宜 / 还 / 这件衣服 / 漂亮
Show answer
这件衣服不仅便宜，还漂亮。
Translate: He not only finished his homework, but also helped his sister.
Show answer
他不仅做完了作业，还帮了妹妹。
Write one sentence describing a friend using 不仅...还...
Show answer
我的朋友不仅工作认真，还很热心。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 3 Fluentide episodes:
斯塔默此行不仅会见了习近平主席，还似乎标志着两国关系正式走出了之前的“冷冻期”。
香港可以帮助双方不仅做生意
这次他来北京，不仅仅是为了唱歌。