Conjunctions / 连词

HSK 4 不但 vs 不仅/不光

not only — three ways to say it, slight differences

Comparison / 对比

不但 búdàn不仅/不光 bùjǐn/bùguāng
RegisterStandard / written不仅: formal; 不光: spoken
Pair with而且 / 还而且 / 还 / 也
Same subject不但 after subject: 他不但…而且…Same rule applies
Diff subjects不但 before subject: 不但他…而且她也…Same rule applies

Examples / 例句

不但: 她不但会说中文，而且会写书法。
Tā búdàn huì shuō zhōngwén, érqiě huì xiě shūfǎ.
She not only speaks Chinese but also writes calligraphy. (standard)
不仅/不光: 他不仅是我的老师，还是我的朋友。
Tā bùjǐn shì wǒ de lǎoshī, hái shì wǒ de péngyou.
He is not only my teacher but also my friend. (slightly more formal)
Quick rule: All three mean 'not only' and are usually interchangeable. Key rule: when two clauses have the SAME subject, put 不但/不仅/不光 AFTER the subject. When subjects DIFFER, put it BEFORE the first subject.

Fill in the Blank / 填空练习

Type the correct word to complete each sentence. Press Enter or click Check.

他会说英语，而且会说法语。
他通过了考试，小李也通过了。
这家店东西质量好，价格也不贵。

Quick Quiz / 小测验

小王通过了考试，小李也通过了。（两个主语不同）
Different subjects → 不但 before the first subject. (不仅 also works but 不但 is most standard for exams.)
这家餐厅菜好吃，服务也很好。
Written/formal context → 不仅 fits well. (不光 sounds too casual for written text.)
他会开车，___会修车。
Same subject, standard usage → 不但…而且/还… All three work here.

Real HSK 4 Test Questions Using 不但 or 不仅/不光 / 真题示例

2 actual HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test the 不但 vs 不仅/不光 distinction:

From HSK 4 Mock Test 02 · Q68
68. 阅读能力好的人不但容易找到工作，而且工资也比较高。另外，阅读考试的分数往往还能反映一个国家的教育水平。阅读能力好的人一般：
A 收入高 ✓B 烦恼少C 经历丰富D 年龄比较大
From HSK 4 Mock Test 03 · Q68
68. 孩子从小就要养成管理自己的好习惯。管理自己不但指自己的事情自己做，更重要的是时间管理，让孩子会计划自己的时间，今天应该完成的事情就不能留到明天，不要总说"来不及了"。为什么有的孩子总说"来不及了"？
A 太懒B 很孤单C 爱开玩笑D 不会管理时间 ✓

不但 vs 不仅/不光 FAQ

Are 不但 and 不仅/不光 interchangeable in HSK 4?

No. Although 不但 (búdàn) and 不仅/不光 (bùjǐn/bùguāng) translate similarly into English, HSK 4 fill-in-the-blank and listening questions test exactly the distinction between them. All three mean 'not only' and are usually interchangeable.

How is 不但 vs 不仅/不光 tested in HSK 4?

Most often in HSK 4 阅读 (reading) Part 1 选词填空 (Q46-55), where you choose the correct word for a blank in a sentence. Also appears in 听力 (listening) where the speaker uses one but the printed answer paraphrases with the other. Master both 不但 and 不仅/不光 collocations to lock in these points.

What's the quickest way to remember 不但 vs 不仅/不光?

All three mean 'not only' and are usually interchangeable. Key rule: when two clauses have the SAME subject, put 不但/不仅/不光 AFTER the subject. When subjects DIFFER, put it BEFORE the first subject. Practice 3-5 fill-in-blank questions in our HSK 4 mock exams to lock the distinction.

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Use this HSK 4 distinction in real test conditions

⚡ Strategy
HSK 4 选词填空 (Q46-55) tips
📝 Patterns
100 essential HSK 4 sentences
🔧 Grammar
HSK 4 grammar guide (14 topics)
🎯 Practice
12 HSK 4 mock exams