HSK 6
不但不/不但没有⋯⋯,反而⋯⋯
bú dàn bù / bú dàn méi yǒu ⋯ ⋯ , fǎn ér ⋯ ⋯
The structure “不但不/不但没有⋯⋯,反而⋯⋯”
Explanation
This is a progressive compound sentence (a multi-clause sentence in which the later clause advances a step beyond the earlier one), using the paired conjunctions 不但不/不但没有⋯⋯,反而⋯⋯ to emphasize a result completely contrary to expectation.
不但不 (bù dàn bù) + verb / 不但没有 (bù dàn méi yǒu) + verb + ,反而 (fǎn ér) + opposite result → "not only did not..., but on the contrary...". Use 不但不 with a verb/adjective in a present-habitual sense, and use 不但没有 when the matter has already happened/been completed.
when the actual result runs completely counter to what should have happened, with a nuance of surprise, disappointment, or dissatisfaction. For example, hoping to be helped but instead being bothered.
不但不 (bù dàn bù) goes with an action that has not/does not happen habitually; 不但没有 (bù dàn méi yǒu) goes with something that did not happen in the past. 反而 (fǎn ér) must begin the later clause to mark the reversal.
Vietnamese learners often replace 反而 with 而且 (ér qiě, and moreover) — this is wrong, because 而且 is only used when the two clauses run in the same direction, whereas here the two clauses run in opposite directions, so 反而 must be used. They also often forget the 不/没有 after 不但, which loses the meaning "not only did not".
Examples
Not only did he not help me, but on the contrary he caused me even more trouble.
Summer has passed, yet the weather has not only failed to cool down, but has on the contrary grown even hotter.
Not only did he not encourage me, but on the contrary he gave me a scolding.
Practice
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The grammar point “不但不/不但没有⋯⋯,反而⋯⋯” (The structure “不但不/不但没有⋯⋯,反而⋯⋯”) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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