Not only… but also…HSK 5
Many types of 'not only... but also...'
The conjunctions 不仅, 不但, and 不只 all mean "not only" and are used in the pattern "Subj. + 不仅/不但/不只 + [clause A], 而且/还/也 + [clause B]" to express "not only A, but also B." Any of the first three can pair freely with any of the second three, and they are essentially interchangeable. The most common mistake is placing the conjunction incorrectly before the subject; always put it after the subject and before the first verb phrase.
Structure
Subj. + 不仅 / 不但 / 不只 + [Verb Phrase 1] , 而且 / 还 / 也 + [Verb Phrase 2]
any combination of the first and second conjunctions works; all are interchangeable
Examples
- 我不只对排球感兴趣，而且对足球也很感兴趣。Wǒ bùzhǐ duì páiqiú gǎnxìngqù, érqiě duì zúqiú yě hěn gǎnxìngqù.I am not only interested in volleyball, but also in soccer.
- 王师傅不但会开车，还会修车。Wáng Shīfu bùdàn huì kāichē, hái huì xiū chē.Not only does Master Wang drive a car, he also repairs cars.
- 他不只会唱歌，也会跳舞。Tā bùzhǐ huì chànggē, yě huì tiàowǔ.He can not only sing, but dance as well.
- 这家餐厅的食物不但好吃，也便宜。Zhè jiā cāntīng de shíwù bùdàn hǎochī, yě piányi.The food in this restaurant is not only good, but is also cheap.
- 他不仅懒，还馋。Tā bùjǐn lǎn, hái chán.He is not only lazy, but also greedy.