Formal Logical Connectors (既...又、不但...而且、非但...反而)

These patterns are all about relationship management. Every sentence has two parts (clauses). These connectors tell the listener how those two parts relate to each other. Are they equal? Is the second one more important? Is the second one a complete surprise?

• 既...又 handles parallel qualities. It’s a balanced scale.
• 不但...而且 handles progression. It’s a staircase going up.
• 非但...反而 handles subverted expectations. It’s a sharp U-turn.

In formal Chinese, these structures are non-negotiable. If you try to use basic words like 和 or 还有 in a formal speech, you’ll sound a bit like you’re wearing flip-flops to a black-tie gala. These connectors provide the formal structure you need to be taken seriously.

1. 1Using these requires a bit of structural discipline. Follow these steps to build your sentences correctly:
2. 2Identify your subject. Is it the same for both parts of the sentence?
3. 3If the subject is the same, place it before the first connector. Example: 他不但聪明，而且努力。
4. 4If you have two different subjects, place them after the connectors. Example: 不但他去了，而且我也去了。
5. 5For 既...又, use it to link two adjectives, verbs, or short phrases. Structure: [Subject] + 既 + [A] + 又 + [B].
6. 6For 不但...而且, the second part is always a step up in intensity. Structure: [Subject] + 不但 + [Fact A] + 而且 + [Bigger Fact B].
7. 7For 非但...反而, the second part must contradict what people expect from the first part. Structure: 非但 + [Action/Situation] + 反而 + [Opposite Result].

You should reach for these when the stakes are high. Imagine you are in a job interview. You don't just want to say you are "good at coding and design." You want to say: "I am 既 creative 又 logical." That sounds like someone they should hire immediately. Use them when:

• Writing a formal email to a professor or boss.
• Giving a presentation where you need to build an argument.
• Describing complex situations where simple "and" doesn't capture the nuance.
• Highlighting a surprising result in a research paper or news report.
• Ordering at a high-end restaurant and describing the qualities of the wine (if you want to impress your date).

Don't overdo it. If you’re just asking your roommate to pass the salt, using 不但...而且 will make you sound like a robot or a Victorian novel.

• Avoid them in very casual text messages with close friends.
• Don't use them if the two points aren't actually related.
• Skip them if you are in a high-speed situation where brevity is key (like shouting directions in traffic).
• Avoid mixing formal connectors with super-slangy endings. It creates a weird "linguistic clash."

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, usually when they are tired or rushing.

• Subject Mismatch: This is the #1 killer. Remember: Same subject? Put it first. Different subjects? Put them after the connectors.
• Redundant Words: Don't add 和 or 也 where they don't belong. 不但...而且 already implies the "also."
• Logic Gaps: With 非但...反而, the result must actually be the opposite. Saying "Not only did I eat, but I also drank" using this pattern is nonsense.
• Tone Clashing: Using 既...又 to describe something trivial like "My sock is both red and dirty" feels a bit too grand for the subject matter.

You might know 又...又... from your beginner days. It’s the friendly younger sibling of 既...又.... While 又...又... is common in spoken Mandarin for simple things ("This apple is both big and sweet"), 既...又... adds a layer of formal sophistication.

What about 不但 vs 不仅? They are very similar, but 不仅 is slightly more frequent in written academic texts.

The biggest contrast is between 不但...而且 and 非但...反而. The first adds information in the same direction. The second flips the script entirely. If you study hard and get an A, use 不但. If you study hard and somehow fail the test, use 非但...反而. It’s the grammar of the unexpected plot twist.