Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 并 AND 并且
In this lesson, we will explore the usage of 并 (bìng) and its extended form 并且 (bìngqiě), which can function to indicate addition, emphasis, or contrast in a sentence.
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INTRODUCTION
并 is used in modern Chinese to express the idea of and, also, or furthermore.
It serves to link ideas, often with a tone of emphasis.
It’s the contracted form of 并且 when used this way.
并 can also negate or contrast actions, particularly when it appears before a verb or adjective.
Basic uses of 并:
- To connect two similar actions or ideas
- To negate a statement or part of a sentence.
COMBINING VERBS WITH 并
并 is used to connect two verbs in a series, often indicating actions that are performed together or consecutively.
It emphasises that both actions are happening in a connected or related manner. When it’s used in this sense, we can substitute it with 并且.
她喜欢工作，并能独立完成任务。
She enjoys working and can complete tasks independently.View More Examples:
| 她整理房间，并准备晚餐。 | Tā zhěnglǐ fángjiān, bìng zhǔnbèi wǎncān. | She tidied the room and prepared dinner. |
| 他们一起看电视，并讨论明天的计划。 | Tāmen yīqǐ kàn diànshì, bìng tǎolùn míngtiān de jìhuà. | They watched TV together and discussed tomorrow’s plan. |
| 我们修理了车，并清理了车库。 | Wǒmen xiūlǐle chē, bìng qīnglǐle chēkù. | We fixed the car and cleaned the garage. |
| 我们成功完成了项目，并获得了奖金。 | Wǒmen chénggōng wánchéngle xiàngmù, bìng huòdéle jiǎngjīn. | We successfully completed the project and received a bonus. |
| 他不喜欢并不理解这项提议。 | Tā bù xǐhuān bìng bù lǐjiě zhè xiàng tíyì. | He neither likes nor understands this proposal. |
| 我没有想要离开，并且也不打算放弃。 | Wǒ méiyǒu xiǎng yào líkāi, bìngqiě yě bù dǎsuàn fàngqì. | I don’t want to leave, and I also don’t plan to give up. |
USAGE OF 并且
并且 is used to connect two statements or actions where both are of equal importance. It adds a formal tone to the sentence and is common in written language and formal speech.
Although in informal contexts, it’s more natural to use 而且 or 还 instead of 并且.
Both 并 and 并且 can be used to link statements, 并 is usually followed by verb phrases, whereas 并且 can be used with verb or adjective phrases.
这项政策减少了污染，并且改善了居民的生活条件。
This policy reduced pollution and improved living conditions for residents.View More Examples:
| 这个方案既实用，并且便宜。 | Zhège fāng’àn jì shíyòng, bìngqiě piányí. | This plan is both practical and cheap. |
| 他不仅努力工作，并且经常帮助同事。 | Tā bùjǐn nǔlì gōngzuò, bìngqiě jīngcháng bāngzhù tóngshì. | He not only works hard but also often helps his colleagues. |
| 这件衣服既时尚，并且舒适。 | Zhè jiàn yīfú jì shíshàng, bìngqiě shūshì. | This piece of clothing is both fashionable and comfortable. |
| 我们不仅要保护环境，并且要教育下一代。 | Wǒmen bù jǐn yào bǎohù huánjìng, bìngqiě yào jiàoyù xià yīdài. | We not only need to protect the environment, but also educate the next generation. |
| 这个城市不仅繁忙，并且有很多历史遗迹。 | Zhège chéngshì bù jǐn fánmáng, bìngqiě yǒu hěn duō lìshǐ yíjī. | This city is not only busy, but also has many historical sites. |
| 他不仅成功地完成了任务，并且提前交付。 | Tā bù jǐn chénggōng de wánchéngle rènwù, bìngqiě tíqián jiāofù. | He not only completed the task successfully, but also submitted it ahead of time. |
USING 并 TO NEGATE OR CONTRAST
并 can also be used to emphasize negation, especially when negating an expected or implied action. It emphasizes that something didn’t happen or isn’t the case.
When it’s used in this way, it’s different and can’t be substituted for 并且.
他并不喜欢吃辣的食物。
He doesn’t like to eat spicy food.View More Examples:
| 我并没有忘记你的生日。 | Wǒ bìng méiyǒu wàngjì nǐ de shēngrì. | I didn’t forget your birthday. |
| 他们并不打算参加这个活动。 | Tāmen bìng bù dǎsuàn cānjiā zhège huódòng. | They don’t plan to attend this event. |
| 我并没听到他刚才说的话。 | Wǒ bìng méi tīngdào tā gāngcái shuō de huà. | I didn’t hear what he just said. |
| 他并没有按照我的要求做。 | Tā bìng méiyǒu ànzhào wǒ de yāoqiú zuò. | He didn’t do it according to my request. |
| 她并不想参加那个会议。 | Tā bìng bù xiǎng cānjiā nàgè huìyì. | She doesn’t want to attend that meeting. |
| 我并不认为他会同意。 | Wǒ bìng bù rènwéi tā huì tóngyì. | I don’t think he will agree. |
| 他们并不喜欢这个城市。 | Tāmen bìng bù xǐhuān zhège chéngshì. | They don’t like this city. |
Notice that there is a strictly equivalent translation in English for 并 when it’s used in this way.
In Chinese, the addition of 并 emphasizes the negation. It suggests that the speaker is strongly affirming the statement, often in response to doubt or accusation.
Let’s explore the subtle meaning of the use of 并 by comparing the sentences 我并没有忘记你的生日 vs. 我没有忘记你的生日.
我并没有忘记你的生日
I really didn’t forget your birthday.- 并 adds a layer of emphasis, making it clear that the speaker absolutely did not forget the birthday.
- This structure is often used when the speaker wants to provide reassurance or correct a misconception.
我没有忘记你的生日
I didn’t forget your birthday.- Explanation: This is a neutral negation without additional emphasis.
Summary of the difference
- 我并没有忘记你的生日 adds emphasis to the negation, often in situations where the speaker wants to stress that they absolutely did not forget the birthday (e.g., in a situation where there might be doubt or expectation).
- 我没有忘记你的生日 is a more neutral statement, simply negating the idea of forgetting the birthday.
WHEN 并AND 并且 ARE USED TOGETHER
When they are used together, 并 often comes before a negation or a contrasting idea, and 并且 is used to connect additional related information or actions.
1. Using 并 to emphasize negation, 并且 to add related information
When 并 and 并且 are used together, the sentence often consists of two contrasting or related ideas.
The first part of the sentence is emphasized with 并 to highlight the negation, and 并且 is used to connect a follow-up statement that adds more context or related details.
我并不想去旅游，并且最近我很忙。
I don’t want to travel, and I’ve been very busy recently.View More Examples:
| 这项计划并没有取得预期效果，并且它需要更多的资金支持。 | Zhè xiàng jìhuà bìng méiyǒu qǔdé yùqī xiàoguǒ, bìngqiě tā xūyào gèng duō de zījīn zhīchí. | This plan did not achieve the expected results, and it needs more financial support. |
| 他并没有完全理解这个问题，并且没有给出任何建议。 | Tā bìng méiyǒu wánquán lǐjiě zhège wèntí, bìngqiě méiyǒu gěichū rènhé jiànyì. | He didn’t fully understand the issue, and he didn’t offer any suggestions. |
| 我并不认为这是一个好主意，并且我觉得它可能带来风险。 | Wǒ bìng bù rènwéi zhè shì yīgè hǎo zhǔyì, bìngqiě wǒ juédé tā kěnéng dàilái fēngxiǎn. | I don’t think this is a good idea, and I believe it may bring risks. |
| 他并没有在这个项目中投入很多精力，并且他也不太关心它的进展。 | Tā bìng méiyǒu zài zhège xiàngmù zhōng tóurù hěn duō jīnglì, bìngqiě tā yě bùtài guānxīn tā de jìnzhǎn. | He didn’t invest much effort into this project, and he isn’t very concerned about its progress. |
2. The role of 并 in highlighting the contrast
In many cases, 并 is used to emphasize that the second part of the sentence is a negation or a contrasting idea.
It draws attention to the fact that the first statement is negated or that the second part contradicts the expectation set by the first.
我并不觉得她会接受这个建议，并且她可能会反对。
I don’t think she will accept this suggestion, and she may even oppose it.View More Examples:
| 这家店并没有提供好的服务，并且价格也不便宜。 | Zhè jiā diàn bìng méiyǒu tígōng hǎo de fúwù, bìngqiě jiàgé yě bù piányí. | This store does not offer good service, and the prices are not cheap either. |
| 他并不擅长做决定，并且他在压力下容易焦虑。 | Tā bìng bù shàncháng zuò juédìng, bìngqiě tā zài yālì xià róngyì jiāolǜ. | He is not good at making decisions, and he gets anxious under pressure. |
| 这些问题并没有被及时解决，并且它们已经影响到了我们的进度。 | Zhèxiē wèntí bìng méiyǒu bèi jíshí jiějué, bìngqiě tāmen yǐjīng yǐngxiǎng dàole wǒmen de jìndù. | These problems have not been solved in time, and they have already affected our progress. |
| 他们并不关心这次会议的结果，并且似乎并没有准备好。 | Tāmen bìng bù guānxīn zhè cì huìyì de jiéguǒ, bìngqiě sìhū bìng méiyǒu zhǔnbèihǎo. | They don’t care about the outcome of this meeting, and it seems they are not prepared. |
| 他的言辞并不委婉，并且直接表达了他的不满。 | Tā de yáncí bìng bù wěiwǎn, bìngqiě zhíjiē biǎodá le tā de bùmǎn. | His words were not tactful, and he directly expressed his dissatisfaction. |
| 她并不喜欢这种音乐风格，并且她觉得它很无聊。 | Tā bìng bù xǐhuān zhè zhǒng yīnyuè fēnggé, bìngqiě tā juédé tā hěn wúliáo. | She doesn’t like this style of music, and she finds it boring. |
| 这个产品并没有如我们预期的那样好，并且它还存在一些质量问题。 | Zhège chǎnpǐn bìng méiyǒu rú wǒmen yùqī de nàyàng hǎo, bìngqiě tā hái cúnzài yīxiē zhìliàng wèntí. | This product is not as good as we expected, and it still has some quality issues. |
并且, 而且 and 还
The words 并且, 而且, and 还 are all used to connect phrases or clauses, but they have distinct nuances, contexts, and levels of formality.
1. 并且 (bìngqiě)
Usage:
- Used to add additional information that is closely related and often equally important.
- Formal or neutral.
- Frequently used in contexts where the connected ideas are logical, parallel, or consequential.
Key Features:
- Often paired with 不仅…并且 (not only… but also).
Examples:
| 他不仅努力工作，并且经常帮助同事。 | Tā bùjǐn nǔlì gōngzuò, bìngqiě jīngcháng bāngzhù tóngshì. | He not only works hard but also often helps his colleagues. |
| 这项政策减少了污染，并且改善了居民的生活条件。 | Zhè xiàng zhèngcè jiǎnshǎo le wūrǎn, bìngqiě gǎishàn le jūmín de shēnghuó tiáojiàn. | This policy reduced pollution and improved living conditions for residents. |
2. 而且 (érqiě)
Usage:
- Also used to add related information, but it’s less formal than 并且.
- Common in both spoken and written language.
Key Features:
- Used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Often paired with 不但/不仅…而且 (not only… but also).
Examples:
| 她不但会说英语，而且会说法语和西班牙语。 | Tā bùdàn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, érqiě huì shuō Fǎyǔ hé Xībānyáyǔ. | She not only speaks English but also speaks French and Spanish. |
| 这座城市风景优美，而且气候宜人。 | Zhè zuò chéngshì fēngjǐng yōuměi, érqiě qìhòu yírén. | This city has beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate. |
3. 还 (hái)
Usage:
- Indicates in addition or still/yet.
- Informal and very common in spoken language.
Key Features:
- Used to add extra information, but the connection is looser compared to 并且 and 而且.
Examples:
| 他很聪明，还很幽默。 | Tā hěn cōngmíng, hái hěn yōumò. | He is very smart and also very humorous. |
| 我们买了水果，还买了几瓶饮料。 | Wǒmen mǎi le shuǐguǒ, hái mǎi le jǐ píng yǐnliào. | We bought fruit and also bought a few bottles of drinks. |
COMPARISON TABLE
| Usage | Formality | Common Structure | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 并且 | Adds important, related ideas; logical connection | Formal (written) | 常用于”不仅…并且 |
他不仅完成了任务，并且超出了预期。
Tā bùjǐn wánchéng le rènwù, bìngqiě chāo chū le yùqī. He not only completed the task but also exceeded expectations. |
| 而且 | Adds or emphasizes reasons/factors; progression | Neutral (spoken + written) | 常用于”不但…而且 |
她不仅爱旅行，而且爱摄影。
Tā bùjǐn ài lǚxíng, érqiě ài shèyǐng. She not only loves traveling but also loves photography. |
| 还 | Adds supplementary or unexpected information | Informal (spoken) | Often with verbs |
他学习很好，还参加了很多课外活动。
Tā xuéxí hěn hǎo, hái cānjiā le hěn duō kèwài huódòng. He studies well and also participates in many extracurricular activities. |
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FAQs
What is the difference between 并 and 并且?
并 is mainly used in negative sentences to emphasize contrast or correction, while 并且 is a conjunction used to connect two clauses, often adding more information.
Can 并 and 并且 be used interchangeably?
No, they have different grammatical roles. 并 is used for emphasis in negative sentences, while 并且 connects two clauses in a broader range of contexts.
Is 并 used in positive sentences?
并 is rarely used in positive sentences; it typically appears in negations to reinforce the denial.
What are some patterns where 并 is used?
并不 (bìng bù) + verb/adjective and 并没有 (bìng méiyǒu) + verb are common patterns to strongly negate a statement.
Can 并且 be replaced by 而且 or 还有?
In many cases, yes. 并且 is similar to 而且, though 而且 is more commonly used in spoken Chinese.
还有 can be used in informal speech when listing additional points.
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