HSK 4Lesson 11 of 14 · 9 grammar points
Progression and qualification
Add a stronger point with 不仅 or 甚至, draw on an extreme example with 连…都, and acknowledge qualifications with 尽管、然而 or 不过. These expressions carry argumentative structure, not merely extra emphasis.
Learning goals (9)
- An extreme additional case.
- Not only but also.
- Further assertion with 并且.
- Even…let alone more.
- One or the other.
- Conceding a real obstacle.
- Written contrast.
- A qualification with 不过.
- Concede then qualify.
…,甚至…
An extreme additional case
甚至 introduces a further point beyond expectations.
他忙得甚至忘了吃饭。
He was so busy that he even forgot to eat.
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Pitfall: Its force depends on a plausible scale of unexpectedness.
不仅/不光…，还/而且…
Not only but also
不仅/不光…还/而且… adds a further property or action.
他不仅会做饭，还会做蛋糕。
He can not only cook but also make cakes.
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Pitfall: With different subjects, place the first marker before the first subject.
…，并且…
Further assertion with 并且
并且 adds a related clause or predicate, often reinforcing the previous point.
房间很大，并且很安静。
The room is large and also quiet.
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Pitfall: It is not the default connector for a pair of simple nouns.
连…也/都…，…更…
Even…let alone more
连…都/也 highlights an extreme case; 更 can extend the implication to another case.
连老师都觉得难，学生更不用说了。
Even the teacher finds it difficult, let alone the students.
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Pitfall: The implied scale must make sense in context.
不是…，就是…
One or the other
不是…就是… restricts the possibilities to alternatives rather than correcting the first one.
他不是在家，就是在办公室。
He is either at home or in the office.
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Pitfall: Contrast 不是…而是…, which rejects the first alternative.
尽管…，但是/可是…
Conceding a real obstacle
尽管…但是/可是… acknowledges a fact despite which the main outcome holds.
尽管很累，他还是完成了工作。
Although he was tired, he still finished the work.
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Pitfall: 尽管 can also mean go ahead in other contexts; do not conflate the uses.
…，然而…
Written contrast
然而 introduces a contrasting fact in relatively written or formal discourse.
计划很好，然而实施起来并不容易。
The plan is good; however, implementing it is not easy.
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Pitfall: Do not place it inside an arbitrary noun phrase.
…，不过…
A qualification with 不过
不过 often adds a limitation to an otherwise accepted statement.
我可以去，不过得晚一点。
I can go, but I will have to be a little late.
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Pitfall: This is a qualification rather than a complete rejection of the earlier clause.
…X是X，就是/不过…
Concede then qualify
X是X，就是/不过… accepts one property before explaining a drawback.
方便是方便，不过有点儿贵。
It is convenient, but a little expensive.
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Pitfall: The repeated adjective signals concession, not uncertainty about its meaning.
Source details (official syllabus)
An extreme additional case
- Syllabus item
- ……,甚至……
- Category
- 递进复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-072
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
Not only but also
- Syllabus item
- 不仅/不光……，还/而且……
- Category
- 递进复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-073
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
Further assertion with 并且
- Syllabus item
- ……，并且……
- Category
- 递进复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-074
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
Even…let alone more
- Syllabus item
- 连……也/都……，……更……
- Category
- 递进复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-075
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
One or the other
- Syllabus item
- 不是……，就是……
- Category
- 选择复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-076
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
Conceding a real obstacle
- Syllabus item
- 尽管……，但是/可是……
- Category
- 转折复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-077
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
Written contrast
- Syllabus item
- ……，然而……
- Category
- 转折复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-078
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
A qualification with 不过
- Syllabus item
- ……，不过……
- Category
- 转折复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-079
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
Concede then qualify
- Syllabus item
- ……X是X，就是/不过……
- Category
- 转折复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L4-080
- PDF page
- 397 (printed 394)
- 1FILL BLANK
他忙得忘了吃饭。
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“He was so busy that he even forgot to eat.”
- 2FILL BLANK
方便是方便，有点儿贵。
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“It is convenient, but a little expensive.”
- 3MATCH
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
- 4CHOOSE
Which introduces an especially unexpected additional case?
- 5CHOOSE
连老师都没听懂。
What is emphasized?
- 6ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“He was so busy that he even forgot to eat.”
Tap the chunks in order. - 7ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“He can not only cook but also make cakes.”
Tap the chunks in order.
0 of 7 tasks answered.
Next lesson: Conditions, exceptions and reasons →…,甚至…An extreme additional case
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…，并且…Further assertion with 并且
- 我按照平时的习惯，用礼貌的态度和清楚的语言回答问题，并且表示我愿意努力学习，尽快合格。 My Job Interview · HSK 4
连…也/都…，…更…Even…let alone more
- 别人没动，我就继续坐着，有时连自己在忙什么都说不清楚。 Five Past Six · HSK 4
- 上个学期，最好的朋友突然对我变得很冷淡，这让我既紧张又难过，连生活都变得不幸福了。 I Misunderstood My Friend · HSK 5
…，不过…A qualification with 不过
- 我说也吃饺子，不过一般是过年前就包好，忙的时候拿出来做。 How Should Dumplings Be Eaten · HSK 4
- 我拿起袋子：“带了。不过……在哪儿能热一下？” Eat Lunch Together · HSK 4