不仅仅... 也是...
Reach for this when you want to add a second, broader identity or scope to something — 'not only X, but also Y.' The 不仅仅 ('not only / not merely') concedes one truth, and 也是 ('is also') broadens the claim to include another. Useful for widening scope ('not just Korea's news, but the world's'), or adding a second role ('not just a friend, also a mentor'). Slightly heavier than the bare 不仅……也…… because of the doubled 仅, which emphasizes 'not MERELY.'
Structure
[SUBJECT] 不仅仅 [LIMITED CLAIM], 也是 [BROADER CLAIM]
bùjǐnjǐn... yěshì...
How to Think About It
不仅仅 is 'not just,' with an extra 仅 that adds 'merely' — pushing back on a narrow reading. 也是 then opens the scope to include more. Together they say 'don't stop at the first label; the truer picture is bigger.' Unlike the reframing 不仅仅是……更像是……, this one ADDS the second identity rather than replacing the first.
Examples
这不仅仅是个人的问题，也是社会的问题。
Zhè bùjǐnjǐn shì gèrén de wèntí, yěshì shèhuì de wèntí.
This isn't just a personal issue; it's also a social issue.
她不仅仅是我的同事，也是我最好的朋友。
Tā bùjǐnjǐn shì wǒ de tóngshì, yěshì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou.
She isn't just my coworker; she's also my best friend.
学习中文不仅仅是为了考试，也是为了交朋友。
Xuéxí Zhōngwén bùjǐnjǐn shì wèile kǎoshì, yěshì wèile jiāo péngyou.
Learning Chinese isn't just for the exam; it's also to make friends.
Common Mistake
Learners use this when they really mean an emphatic upgrade (use 不仅仅是……更像是…… or 绝不仅仅是……而是……). 不仅仅……也是…… is additive: both halves are true side by side, not 'A is actually B.'
他不仅仅是老师，也是医生。 (when meaning: he's actually more like a mentor than a teacher)
他不仅仅是我的老师，更像是我的人生导师。
Don't Confuse With
不仅……而且……
Standard 'not only… but also…'. 不仅仅……也是…… has the same shape but the doubled 仅 emphasizes 'not merely,' making the first clause feel more like an underclaim being widened.
不仅仅是……更像是……
Reframes the subject with a richer metaphor. 不仅仅……也是…… simply adds a second true claim; it doesn't replace or upgrade the first.
除了……还是……
Not a standard pattern; if you mean 'besides X, also Y,' use 除了……还……. 不仅仅……也是…… is for adding a broader identity, not listing items.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 这家店 ____ 卖咖啡，也是一个小书店。
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不仅仅
Fill in the blank: 他不仅仅是个学生， ____ 一位作家。
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也是
Arrange into a sentence: 不仅仅是 / 也是 / 这条新闻 / 中国的 / 世界的 / 新闻 / 新闻
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这条新闻不仅仅是中国的新闻，也是世界的新闻。
Translate to Chinese: This park isn't just for children; it's also a place for elderly people.
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这个公园不仅仅是给孩子的，也是老人活动的地方。
Use 不仅仅……也是…… to expand on the identity of someone or something familiar.
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我的猫不仅仅是一只宠物，也是我家的一员。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 不仅仅... 也是... 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.