Furthermore: 而且 érqiě

而且 érqiě means “and also,” “furthermore,” or “what’s more.” It adds a second point on top of the first, often a stronger one. Pair it with 不但 búdàn to say “not only… but also…”

一 A，而且 B

A，而且 B

而且 érqiě links two adjectives, verb phrases, or whole clauses. It’s often followed by 還 hái还 hái or 也 yě to stress the extra point.

台湾Táiwān的de水果shuǐguǒ甜tián而且érqiě便宜piányi

Fruit in Taiwan is sweet and cheap, too.

我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu有yǒu中文Zhōngwén课kè，而且érqiě我wǒ周末zhōumò的时候de shíhou还hái做zuò语言yǔyán交换jiāohuàn

I have Chinese class every day, and on weekends I also do language exchange.

我wǒ这zhè几jǐ天tiān一直yìzhí觉得juéde没méi胃口wèikǒu，而且érqiě还hái很hěn想xiǎng吐tù

I’ve had no appetite for the past few days, and I keep feeling like throwing up.

她tā没méi还huán我wǒ钱qián而且érqiě还hái封锁fēngsuǒ我wǒ

She didn’t pay me back, and she even blocked me!

Watch out: the first 还 is huán (“pay back”), the second is hái (“also”).

我wǒ会huì说shuō中文Zhōngwén，而且érqiě还hái说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo

I can speak Chinese, and what’s more, I speak it really well.

而且 érqiě and 并且 bìngqiě are very similar and often interchangeable, but 并且 bìngqiě sounds a bit more formal or written.

二不但 A，而且 B

不但 A，而且 B

不但 búdàn (“not only”) sets up the first point, and 而且 érqiě adds the second. Instead of 不但 búdàn, you can also use 不只 bùzhǐ, 不單 bùdān不单 bùdān, or 不僅 bùjǐn不仅 bùjǐn.

中文Zhōngwén不但búdàn简单jiǎndān，而且érqiě还hái非常fēicháng容易róngyì学xué

Chinese isn’t just simple; it’s also super easy to learn. 😉

她tā不仅bùjǐn聪明cōngming，而且érqiě很hěn有yǒu幽默感yōumògǎn

She’s not only smart, she’s got a great sense of humor too.

我wǒ的de狗gǒu不只bùzhǐ很hěn爱ài吃chī，而且érqiě还hái很hěn爱ài睡觉shuìjiào

My dog not only loves eating, he also loves sleeping.

你nǐ不但búdàn不bù承认chéngrèn错误cuòwù，而且érqiě还hái说谎shuōhuǎng

Not only do you refuse to admit your mistake, you’re lying, too!

如果rúguǒ选xuǎn错cuò老师lǎoshī，你nǐ不单bùdān会huì浪费làngfèi钱qián，而且érqiě也yě浪费làngfèi时间shíjiān

If you pick the wrong teacher, you’ll waste not only money but also time.

农历nónglì七月qīyuè不但búdàn不能bùnéng放fàng烟火yānhuǒ，而且érqiě也yě不能bùnéng游泳yóuyǒng

During the seventh lunar month, you can’t set off fireworks, and you can’t go swimming either.

FYI: Ghost MonthIn Taiwan and parts of China, the seventh lunar month is “Ghost Month,” when restless spirits are believed to roam the human world. Traditional taboos include staying out late at night, swimming or playing in water, and setting off fireworks in the evening. These beliefs are weaker today, but many people still respect them. 👻

三 Where Does 不但 Go?

Where does 不但 búdàn go? If both parts share the same subject, put 不但 búdàn after the subject. If the subjects are different, put 不但 búdàn before the first subject.

Same subject · after it

他tā不但búdàn会huì唱歌chànggē，而且érqiě也yě会huì跳舞tiàowǔ

He not only sings, he also dances.

Different subjects · before them

不但búdàn他tā会huì唱歌chànggē，而且érqiě他tā妹妹mèimei也yě会huì

Not only does he sing, his sister does too.

四 Common Mistakes

❌ 不但búdàn她tā聰明cōngmíng聪明cōngming，而且érqiě很hěn幽默yōumò

✅ 她tā不但búdàn聰明cōngmíng聪明cōngming，而且érqiě很hěn幽默yōumò

Same subject → 不但 búdàn goes after it.

❌ 我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān喜欢xǐhuan咖啡kāfēi而且érqiě茶chá

✅ 我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān喜欢xǐhuan咖啡kāfēi和hàn和hé茶chá

而且 érqiě links adjectives, verbs, or clauses, not two nouns. For nouns, use 和 hàn和 hé.

❌ 他tā不但búdàn會huì会huì唱歌chànggē，但是dànshì也yě會huì会huì跳舞tiàowǔ

✅ 他tā不但búdàn會huì会huì唱歌chànggē，而且érqiě也yě會huì会huì跳舞tiàowǔ

不但 búdàn pairs with 而且 érqiě, not 但是 dànshì (“but”).

五 Practice

Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!

Question 1 of 10

“He’s my coworker, and he’s also my best friend.”