When I teach beginner and intermediate Chinese classes, I notice that my students know how to say a wide variety of different phrases, and they naturally start to form more complex explanations and stories. However, sometimes they lack the kind of ‘linking words’ necessary to tie it all together. As a result, they speak in very short, choppy sentences.
It sounds a little like this: “It’s raining today. I don’t go outside. I go to the library.” I think we can all agree that “It’s raining today, so instead of going outside, I went to the library.” sounds a lot more fluent. This is why it’s essential to learn words like 而且 (érqiě), which we’re going to examine in this brief tutorial.
How to use 而且 in a sentence
而且 (érqiě) is commonly used to connect two parallel or progressively related clauses or phrases, carrying the sense of “furthermore” or “in addition.”
Pay attention to the fact that 而且 typically appears in the middle of a sentence and not at the beginning.
e.g.
他会说英语，而且会说法语。(Tā huì shuō Yīngyǔ，érqiě huì shuō Fǎyǔ.)He can speak English, and he can speak French.
我今天不想出门，而且外面还在下雨。(Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng chūmén， érqiě wàimiàn hái zài xiàyǔ.) I don’t want to go out today, also it’s raining outside.
这款手机功能齐全，而且价格相对便宜。(Zhè kuǎn shǒujī gōngnéng qíquán, érqiě jiàgé xiāngduì piányi.) This phone is full of features and relatively inexpensive.
Using 而且 to emphasize progression
When you want to provide further or more important information after stating something, you can use 而且 to show a progressive emphasis.
e.g.
这道菜做起来简单，而且味道特别好。(Zhè dào cài zuò qǐlái jiǎndān, érqiě wèidào tèbié hǎo.) This dish is simple to make, and it also tastes great.
这篇文章写得很生动，而且富有想象力。(Zhè piān wénzhāng xiě dé hěn shēngdòng, érqiě fùyǒu xiǎngxiàng lì.) This article is very vivid and imaginative.
我最近在学钢琴，而且还开始弹奏一些简单的曲子。(Wǒ zuìjìn zàixué gāngqín, érqiě hái kāishǐ tán zòu yīxiē jiǎndān de qǔzǐ.) I am learning piano recently, and I have started to play some simple songs.
Compound sentences with 而且
- 不但……，而且……
- 不仅……，而且……
- 不光……，而且……
Learn more from:
All of these structures pair 而且 with another linking word, such as 不但 (bùdàn), 不仅(bùjǐn), or 不光(bùguāng) to better indicate the logical relationship between the two phrases. For example, “不但…，而且…” is similar to the English structure “not only…, but also…”.
Subject + 不但/不仅/不光 …… 而且……
Note that if both phrases have the same subject, you can omit it before 而且.
e.g.
我不但会跳舞，而且会唱歌。(Wǒ búdàn huì tiàowǔ, ěrqiě huì chànɡɡē.) Not only can I dance, but also sing
这个孩子不但会说汉语，而且还会写汉字。(Zhège háizi bùdàn huì shuō hànyǔ, érqiě hái huì xiě hànzì.) This child can not only speak Chinese, but also write Chinese characters.
我不仅去过中国，还去过日本和韩国。(Wǒ bùjǐn qùguò Zhōngguó, hái qùguò Rìběn hé Hánguó.) I have not only been to China but also Japan and South Korea.
我的老师不光会教汉语，而且会做中国菜。(Wǒ de lǎoshī bùguāng huì jiāo Hànyǔ, érqiě huì zuò Zhōngguó cài.) My teacher can not only teach Chinese but also cook Chinese food.
不但/不仅/不光 + Subject 1 …… + 而且 + Subject 2 ……
Note that if the two clauses have different subjects, each subject should be put after 不但/不仅/不光 and 而且 respectively.
e.g.
不但我喜欢她，而且我的好朋友也喜欢她。(Búdàn wǒ xǐhuɑn tā, ěrqiě wǒ de hǎo pénɡyou yě xǐhuɑn tā.) Not only do I like her, but my good friends also like her.
不仅饭做好了，而且外卖也都送来了。(Bùjǐn fàn zuò hǎole, érqiě wàimài yě dōu sòng láile.) Not only was the meal ready, but the takeaway was also delivered.
不光我会说中文，而且我的家人也会说中文。(Bùguāng wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě wǒ de jiārén yě huì shuō Zhōngwén.) Not only I can speak Chinese, but my family can also speak Chinese.
而且 vs 并且
而且(érqiě) and 并且(bìngqiě) can be used interchangeably in many situations to indicate progression or parallel ideas. However, in actual usage 而且 is more common in spoken Chinese and sounds more natural. 并且 is used more often in written or formal contexts, sounding slightly more official.
e.g.
他说话幽默，而且常常能给人带来快乐。He speaks humorously, and he often brings joy to others.
公司规定员工必须准时上下班，并且保持工作区域整洁。The company requires employees to be punctual and also keep their work area tidy.
Short example text for practice
Below is a short passage that uses 而且 in several different ways. Give it a read and see if you understand how all the different ideas are connected. Pay attention to the cohesive meaning of the paragraph, not just the individual phrases. If you feel confident in your understanding, you can even try translating it yourself before reading the provided English text below.
e.g.
我最近在学习中文，而且还开始阅读一些简单的中文报纸。我发现中文不仅有趣，而且对我将来找工作也非常有帮助。因为我打算去中国旅游，而且还想在那里待上一段时间，所以更需要提高自己的口语能力。在学习过程中，我常常和老师、同学交流，他们给了我很多建议，而且随时帮助我纠正发音。我不仅要努力背单词，而且要多练习听力，这样才能取得更快的进步。
English Translation:
I have been studying Chinese lately, and I have also started reading some simple Chinese newspapers. I find Chinese not only interesting but also very helpful for my future job prospects. Since I plan to travel to China and stay there for a while, I need to further improve my speaking skills. During my studies, I often talk with my teachers and classmates. They give me a lot of suggestions and are always ready to help me correct my pronunciation. Not only do I need to work hard at memorizing vocabulary, but I also need to practice listening more, so I can make faster progress.
Conclusion
Mastering linking words like 而且 takes a considerable amount of time and practice. It all starts with understanding; pay close attention to how native speakers use them by listening to your Chinese friends in real life or by watching Chinese media like TV shows, news broadcasts, or podcasts. Then, you can take steps to start incorporating the structures we reviewed in your own sentences. The more often you use them, the more you’ll see an increase in your fluency and your ability to describe situations in detail. You may be surprised how much a difference these little words can make.
Exercises
