Understanding "不仅" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 不仅
• Pinyin: bù jǐn
• Literal Meaning: not only / not merely
• Primary Meaning: "not only" (often used in the pattern 不仅…而且… or 不仅…还/也… to mean "not only ... but also ...")

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

不仅 is a conjunction used to introduce a first element that is being added to. It emphasizes that the scope goes beyond what is first stated. It very often pairs with words like 而且 (érqiě, "but also"), 还 (hái, "still/also"), or 也 (yě, "also") in the second clause to create the structure "not only A, but also B". It can appear in both spoken and written Chinese, and is considered slightly more formal than a simple 不但 (bùdàn), which carries a similar meaning.

A key nuance is that the subject of the sentence can be placed either before or after 不仅. When the subject is the same for both clauses, 不仅 usually comes right after the subject. When the two clauses have different subjects, 不仅 is placed before the first subject.

• Same subject: 我不仅喜欢唱歌，而且喜欢跳舞。(Wǒ bùjǐn xǐhuān chànggē, érqiě xǐhuān tiàowǔ.) – "I not only like singing, but also like dancing."
• Different subjects: 不仅他会说中文，而且他弟弟也会。(Bùjǐn tā huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě tā dìdi yě huì.) – "Not only can he speak Chinese, but his younger brother can also."

The word can also be used in a negative sense, e.g., 不仅不…反而… ("not only not ... but on the contrary ...").

Character Breakdown

• 不 (bù): a negation particle meaning "not" or "no".
• 仅 (jǐn): an adverb meaning "only", "merely", or "barely". It often implies a limited scope.

Together, 不仅 literally says "not only", which directly mirrors the English phrase. Understanding these two characters helps the learner see how the compound word is built from simple, logical components.

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 他不仅学习好，而且体育也很棒。
• Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn xuéxí hǎo, érqiě tǐyù yě hěn bàng.

• English: He not only does well in studies, but is also excellent at sports.

• Chinese: 这个餐厅不仅便宜，还好吃。

• Pinyin: Zhège cāntīng bùjǐn piányi, hái hǎochī.

• English: This restaurant is not only cheap, but also delicious.

• Chinese: 我不仅去过北京，还在那里住过两年。

• Pinyin: Wǒ bùjǐn qùguo Běijīng, hái zài nàlǐ zhùguo liǎng nián.
• English: I have not only been to Beijing, but also lived there for two years.

Cultural Notes

Using 不仅 instead of 不但 can convey a slightly more polished or literary tone. In everyday conversation, 不但 is very common, but 不仅 is perfectly natural and often heard in more thoughtful statements or formal discussions. Learners will encounter both; mastering 不仅 is a sign of growing sophistication in the language. The paired structure 不仅…而且… is reminiscent of a balanced couplet in Chinese rhetoric, where parallel clauses reinforce the completeness of a statement.

Conclusion

Remember 不仅 as the cornerstone of "not only, but also" sentences. Its pattern is logical, and the two characters directly map to "not" (不) and "only" (仅). Practice using it with a same-subject and then a different-subject sentence to internalize its placement. Once comfortable, you can vary the second connector — 而且, 还, or 也 — to add natural flow to your Chinese.