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而且
ér qiě
and also
他不但会说中文，而且会说英语。
He not only speaks Chinese, but also English.
formal
Used to connect two related statements to indicate addition or progression.
这个餐厅不仅干净，而且味道很好。
This restaurant is not only clean, but also has great taste.
她不仅聪明，而且很努力。
She is not only smart, but also hardworking.
Used in both written and spoken Chinese to emphasize an additional positive quality or fact. Often pairs with 不但 (bùdàn) for 'not only...but also' structure.
Collocations
不但...而且...not only...but also...而且如此and moreover
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 而且
In spoken Chinese, native speakers often use simpler conjunctions like 然后 (rán hòu) or 还有 (hái yǒu) to mean 'and also'. 而且 is best reserved for written contexts or when emphasizing an additional point.
Gold Rule
Pair with 不但 for emphasis
To create the 'not only...but also' structure, always pair 不但 (bùdàn) with 而且 (ér qiě). Example: '他不但高，而且很强壮。' (He is not only tall, but also very strong.)
Word Origin
The character 而 (ér) historically means 'and' or 'but', while 且 (qiě) means 'also' or 'moreover'. Combined, 而且 evolved to express 'and also' in modern Mandarin.
Usage Notes
1. 而且 is more formal than just 和 (and) and often used in written Chinese or formal speech. 2. It cannot start a sentence; it must follow the first clause. 3. In casual speech, people might omit 而且 and simply use 不但 (bùdàn) alone for brevity.
Word Breakdown
而
and; but
root且
also; moreover
root汉英词典