不但不...反而... (bùdàn...fǎn'ér) in Chinese
不但不/不但没有…反而…
不但不...反而... presents a result that does more than fail to meet an expectation: the opposite or a more surprising result occurs instead. 不但不 or 不但没有 rejects the expected outcome, and 反而 introduces the reversal. The two parts should form a meaningful expectation contrast, not merely list unrelated negative and positive facts.
Published July 17, 2026
Reviewed July 17, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
不但不/没 + A, 反而 + Opposite B
Read the structure
不但不...反而... presents a result that does more than fail to meet an expectation: the opposite or a more surprising result occurs instead. 不但不 or 不但没有 rejects the expected outcome, and 反而 introduces the reversal. The two parts should form a meaningful expectation contrast, not merely list unrelated negative and positive facts. Keep the model 不但不/没 + A, 反而 + Opposite B visible while you compare each sentence.
这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更闷热。
The rain not only failed to cool things down but made the weather muggier.
Choose the right context
For an opposite result: 这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更闷热。 To criticize an unexpected response: 他不但不道歉，反而责怪我。 When an attempted improvement makes matters worse: 新规定不但没解决问题，反而增加了成本。
他不但不道歉，反而责怪我。
Instead of apologizing, he blamed me.
Respect the boundary
For two ordinary additive facts with no reversed expectation; use 不但...而且... instead. Do not stack 反而 directly after 不但不 before the rejected expectation. Do not use the frame when the second clause is unrelated to what the first clause leads the listener to expect.
这场雨不但不反而降温，让天气更热了。
(The rain did not cool things down and instead made it hotter.)
Repair the pattern
反而 is stacked with 不但不 before the expected result: The first part must name the unrealized expectation 降温; 反而 then introduces the opposite outcome. 反而 is placed after the verb it should modify: 反而 introduces the reversed predicate 责怪我 and must precede that predicate.
这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更热了。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更闷热。
The rain not only failed to cool things down but made the weather muggier.
这
不但不/没
This part occupies the 不但不/没 position in the model pattern.
场
A, 反而
This part occupies the A, 反而 position in the model pattern.
雨
Opposite B
This part occupies the Opposite B position in the model pattern.
不但
不但不/没
This part occupies the 不但不/没 position in the model pattern.
没有
A, 反而
This part occupies the A, 反而 position in the model pattern.
降
Opposite B
This part occupies the Opposite B position in the model pattern.
温
不但不/没
This part occupies the 不但不/没 position in the model pattern.
，
A, 反而
This part occupies the A, 反而 position in the model pattern.
反而
Opposite B
This part occupies the Opposite B position in the model pattern.
让
不但不/没
This part occupies the 不但不/没 position in the model pattern.
天气
A, 反而
This part occupies the A, 反而 position in the model pattern.
更
Opposite B
This part occupies the Opposite B position in the model pattern.
闷热
不但不/没
This part occupies the 不但不/没 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更闷热。
The rain not only failed to cool things down but made the weather muggier.
他不但不道歉，反而责怪我。
Instead of apologizing, he blamed me.
新规定不但没解决问题，反而增加了成本。
The new rule did not solve the problem and instead increased costs.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- For an opposite result: 这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更闷热。
- To criticize an unexpected response: 他不但不道歉，反而责怪我。
- When an attempted improvement makes matters worse: 新规定不但没解决问题，反而增加了成本。
Do not use it when
- For two ordinary additive facts with no reversed expectation; use 不但...而且... instead.
- Do not stack 反而 directly after 不但不 before the rejected expectation.
- Do not use the frame when the second clause is unrelated to what the first clause leads the listener to expect.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这场雨不但不反而降温，让天气更热了。
这场雨不但没有降温，反而让天气更热了。
反而 is stacked with 不但不 before the expected result
The first part must name the unrealized expectation 降温; 反而 then introduces the opposite outcome.
他不但不道歉，还责怪反而我。
他不但不道歉，反而责怪我。
反而 is placed after the verb it should modify
反而 introduces the reversed predicate 责怪我 and must precede that predicate.
这场雨不但不反而降温，让天气更热了。
Name the failed expectation first, then use 反而: 不但没有降温，反而让天气更热了。
他不但不道歉，还责怪反而我。
Put 反而 before the reversed predicate: 反而责怪我。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 不但不/不但没有…反而….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 不但不/不但没有…反而…. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
不但不...反而... (bùdàn...fǎn'ér) Questions
How is 不但不...反而... different from 不但...而且...?
不但...而且... adds a second fact. 不但不...反而... says the expected result did not happen and an opposite or more surprising result happened instead.
Can the first part use 没有 instead of 不?
Yes. Use 不 for habits, judgments, or non-occurrence in suitable contexts and 没有 or 没 for completed or realized outcomes, such as 不但没解决，反而更严重.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 不但不/不但没有…反而…
Supports the learner-facing account of where 不但不/不但没有…反而… appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 不但不/不但没有…反而…
Cross-checks the 不但不/没 + A, 反而 + Opposite B pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 6 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 6; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
不仅/不光…还/而且…不仅...而且... (bùjǐn...érqiě)
Distinguish expectation reversal from ordinary additive emphasis.
Compare
不是…而是…不是...而是... (búshì...érshì)
Compare reversal after negation with direct correction and replacement.
Continue learning
况且况且: Moreover / Besides
Add a supporting reason after presenting an unexpected reversal.
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反倒反倒: Contrary to Expectation
Use a standalone adverb to mark the same reversal of expectation.
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