不但

búdàn

conjunction HSK 3 #6,339

Meanings

Literally 'not only' - always paired with 而且 (but also).

HSK 1

他不但会说中文，还会说日语。

Tā búdàn huì shuō Zhōngwén, hái huì shuō Rìyǔ.

He can speak not only Chinese but also Japanese.

HSK 3

她不但聪明，而且很努力。

Tā búdàn cōngmíng, érqiě hěn nǔlì.

She is not only smart but also very hardworking.

HSK 3

这个菜不但好吃，而且便宜。

Zhège cài búdàn hǎochī, érqiě piányi.

This dish is not only delicious but also cheap.

grammar

不但……而且/还…… is a standard pattern. 而且 and 还 are interchangeable in the second clause.

mistakes

When both clauses share the same subject, 不但 goes after the subject. With different subjects, 不但 goes before.

不 bù

但 dàn