Chinese–EnglishWith examples

不但

bù dàn · bu dan

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. not only (... but also ...)
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Dumplings

  1. Dengdeng

    琦琦(qíqí)妈妈(māma)做(zuò)的(de)饺子(jiǎozi)太(tài)好吃(hǎochī)了(le)！

    Qiqi's mom's dumplings are so good!

  2. Liangliang

    她(tā)不但(bùdàn)做(zuò)得(de)好(hǎo)，而且(érqiě)做(zuò)得(de)快(kuài)。

    She not only cooks well, she also cooks fast.

  3. Dengdeng

    不但(bùdàn)好吃(hǎochī)，还(hái)很(hěn)好看(hǎokàn)！

    Not only tasty, they also look cute!

  4. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)不但(bùdàn)吃(chī)了(le)十个(shígè)，还(hái)想(xiǎng)再(zài)要(yào)十个(shígè)？

    You not only ate ten, you want ten more?

  5. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)知道(zhīdào)？

    How did you know?

  6. Liangliang

    因为(yīnwèi)你(nǐ)不但(bùdàn)手里(shǒulǐ)有(yǒu)饺子(jiǎozi)，嘴里(zuǐlǐ)也(yě)有(yǒu)。

    Because you have dumplings not only in your hand, but in your mouth too.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

丽(lì)萨(sà)不(bú)但(dàn)会(huì)说(shuō)英(yīng)文(wén)，而(ér)且(qiě)会(huì)说(shuō)法(fǎ)文(wén)。

Lisa speaks not only English but also French.

Tatoeba: Chinese by GlossaMatik · English by CN · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)不(bú)但(dàn)没(méi)帮(bāng)我(wǒ)，还(hái)骂(mà)了(le)我(wǒ)。

Not only did he refuse to help me, but also he scolded me.

Tatoeba: Chinese by User5120 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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The characters

Explore individually
不
bù

no; not so; (bound form) not; un-

但
dàn

but; yet; however; still; merely; only; just

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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