不仅仅是 ... 还有 ...
Reach for this when you're broadening the scope of who or what is involved — 'it's not only X, there's also Y.' Where 不仅仅... 也/还... extends a description of the SAME subject, 不仅仅是... 还有... usually expands a LIST or scope, adding another player, another factor, another affected party. Common in news analysis and commentary that wants to say 'this issue isn't isolated — here's what else is on the table.'
Structure
不仅仅是 [INITIAL ITEM / SCOPE], 还有 [ADDITIONAL ITEM]
bùjǐnjǐn shì ... hái yǒu ...
How to Think About It
还有 is the giveaway: this pattern adds another ENTITY, not another quality. You're saying the first item isn't the whole list — there are more on the same shelf. 不仅仅 carries pushback against the assumption that the first item is the only one. Use this when you want the reader to widen their gaze: 'this isn't just about Meta — Google, OpenAI, Anthropic are all in this too.' For adding qualities to one subject, switch back to 不仅仅...也/还....
Examples
这不仅仅是钱的问题, 还有信任的问题。
Zhè bùjǐnjǐn shì qián de wèntí, hái yǒu xìnrèn de wèntí.
This isn't only a money issue; there's also a trust issue.
受影响的不仅仅是学生, 还有他们的家人。
Shòu yǐngxiǎng de bùjǐnjǐn shì xuésheng, hái yǒu tāmen de jiārén.
It's not only students who are affected; there are also their families.
今天讨论的不仅仅是中国, 还有整个亚洲。
Jīntiān tǎolùn de bùjǐnjǐn shì Zhōngguó, hái yǒu zhěnggè Yàzhōu.
What we're discussing today isn't only China; it's all of Asia.
Common Mistake
Learners mix this up with 不仅仅...也是... and end up describing one subject with two labels instead of listing two subjects. 还有 introduces a new entity; 也是 reframes the same one. Pick by asking: am I adding another THING (还有) or another LABEL for the same thing (也是)?
这不仅仅是中文的问题, 也是英文。
这不仅仅是中文的问题, 还有英文。
Don't Confuse With
不仅仅 ... 也/还 ...
Layers two qualities on the SAME subject. 'She isn't just smart, she's also funny.' Use 还有 when you're adding a different entity, 也/还 when you're adding another trait.
不仅 ... 还 ...
More compact written form. Drops the doubled 仁 and the 是. Use it in essays where you want the bookish feel; 不仅仅是 carries more spoken-pushback energy.
除了 X 还有 Y
Means 'besides X there's also Y.' Lists additional items but without the 'don't underestimate this' tone of 不仅仁是. Use 除了 for neutral expansion; 不仅仅是 when you're pushing back against narrow framing.
Practice
这件事 ___ 是公司的问题, 还有政府的问题。
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不仅仅
我们要解决的不仅仅是价格, ___ 质量。
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还有
Put in order: [不仅仅是 / 还有 / 中文 / 难 / 日文 / 韩文]
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难的不仅仅是中文, 还有日文和韩文。
Translate to Chinese: 'It's not only a health problem; there's also a financial problem.'
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这不仅仅是健康的问题, 还有钱的问题。
Write one sentence widening the scope of a current issue you care about, using 不仅仅是... 还有....
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Example answer: 影响气候变化的不仅仅是工厂, 还有我们每天的生活方式。 (What affects climate change isn't only factories; it's also our daily lifestyles.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: