不仅...还/也...
Reach for 不仅...还/也... when one thing isn't the whole story — you want to acknowledge what's already obvious and then layer a second, often bigger point on top. It is the slightly formal 'not only X, but also Y' you'll see in news commentary, essays, and business analysis. The second half escalates: it usually pushes further than the first, surprises the reader, or reinforces the same direction. 还 emphasizes addition; 也 emphasizes parallel quality.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 不仅 [POINT 1] ，还/也 [POINT 2]
bùjǐn... hái/yě...
How to Think About It
不仅 sets up an 'and there's more' promise — the listener leans in expecting the second clause to escalate or expand. Without 还 or 也 in the second half, the promise hangs and the sentence feels broken. 还 is the natural choice when point 2 goes BEYOND point 1 in degree or scope; 也 is better when point 2 is a parallel quality of the same subject. Both keep the subject the same across the two clauses.
Examples
他不仅聪明，还很努力。
Tā bùjǐn cōngming, hái hěn nǔlì.
He isn't only smart — he's also very hardworking.
这家餐厅不仅东西好吃，价格也很便宜。
Zhè jiā cāntīng bùjǐn dōngxi hǎochī, jiàgé yě hěn piányi.
This restaurant doesn't just have good food — the prices are also cheap.
学中文不仅要背单词，还要多听多说。
Xué Zhōngwén bùjǐn yào bèi dāncí, hái yào duō tīng duō shuō.
Learning Chinese isn't just memorizing words — you also need to listen and speak a lot.
Common Mistake
Learners forget the 还/也 in the second clause, treating 不仅 like a standalone 'not only.' Chinese demands the second connector — it's the half that delivers the escalation that 不仅 promised.
他不仅会说中文，会说日文。
他不仅会说中文，还会说日文。
Don't Confuse With
不但...而且...
Same meaning, slightly more formal/written. 而且 is heavier than 还/也 and often used when point 2 is a strong logical escalation. Swap freely in writing; in speech 不仅...还... is more common.
不只是...还/也...
Same meaning, lower register — spoken Chinese default. 不仅 leans literary; 不只是 sounds casual.
除了...还/也...
除了 excludes one item and then adds others ('besides X, also Y'). 不仅 includes point 1 fully and stacks point 2 on top with emphasis. Different angle: subtraction vs. escalation.
Practice
她 ___ 漂亮，还很善良。
Show answer
不仅
这本书不仅有意思，___ 很有用。
Show answer
还
Put in order: [不仅 / 也 / 他 / 会 / 弹 / 钢琴 / 唱歌 / 会]
Show answer
他不仅会弹钢琴，也会唱歌。
Translate to Chinese: 'This phone is not only expensive, it's also slow.'
Show answer
这个手机不仅贵，还很慢。
Write one sentence praising a friend with two qualities, using 不仅...还...
Show answer
Example answer: 我的朋友不仅工作认真，还很会照顾人。 (My friend isn't just dedicated at work — she also really takes care of people.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 2 Fluentide episodes: