而且 / 并且 / 再说 / 另外 (Moreover) | Chinese (Mandarin) Grammar

Once you can say "not only… but also…" with the 不但…而且 frame, the next step is the family of connectors that add one more point on their own: 而且, 并且, 再说, 另外, and 何况. English lumps most of these under "moreover / besides / and also," but Chinese sorts them by register and job — some are neutral, one is argumentative and spoken, one is formal, one flags a separate item, and one raises a stronger case ("let alone"). The single rule that ties them together: they all open a clause (a whole predicate), never join two bare nouns. That job belongs to 和.

The five connectors at a glance

Connector	Meaning	Register / what it links
而且 (érqiě)	moreover, and what's more	neutral; the default, links clauses
并且 (bìngqiě)	and also, furthermore	formal; links parallel verb phrases / predicates
再说 (zàishuō)	besides, what's more	spoken; adds a clinching reason in an argument
另外 (lìngwài)	in addition, separately	neutral; introduces a distinct, separate item
何况 (hékuàng)	let alone, not to mention	emphatic; raises an even stronger case

而且 — the neutral "moreover"

而且 is the workhorse. It adds a point in the same direction as the first clause, safe in speech and writing, and is the closer you already met in the 不但…而且 frame.

这儿离家近，而且很安静。

zhèr lí jiā jìn, érqiě hěn ānjìng

It's close to home, and quiet too. (neutral)

这个方案成本低，而且见效快。

zhège fāng'àn chéngběn dī, érqiě jiànxiào kuài

This plan is low-cost, and it works fast on top of that. (neutral)

并且 — the formal "furthermore"

并且 is 而且's dressier cousin. It typically links two parallel verb phrases about the same subject — two things done, decided, or agreed — and is at home in reports, announcements, and formal prose.

公司通过了这个方案，并且决定立刻执行。

gōngsī tōngguò le zhège fāng'àn, bìngqiě juédìng lìkè zhíxíng

The company approved the plan and decided to carry it out at once. (formal)

他接受了邀请，并且答应发表演讲。

tā jiēshòu le yāoqǐng, bìngqiě dāying fābiǎo yǎnjiǎng

He accepted the invitation and agreed to give a speech. (formal)

再说 — the spoken "besides"

再说 is argumentative and colloquial. You reach for it to drop a clinching extra reason — often when talking someone out of, or into, something. It usually introduces the reason that seals the case.

我不想去，再说也没时间。

wǒ bù xiǎng qù, zàishuō yě méi shíjiān

I don't want to go — besides, there's no time anyway. (informal)

别买了，太贵了，再说家里已经有一个了。

bié mǎi le, tài guì le, zàishuō jiā lǐ yǐjīng yǒu yí ge le

Don't buy it, it's too expensive — and besides, we already have one at home. (informal)

另外 — the "separately, in addition"

另外 flags that what follows is a separate matter, not just more of the same. It's the "on a separate note" or "also, apart from that" of Chinese, and often opens its own sentence. See also 另外 / 此外 (Besides).

会议改到三点，另外，地点也换了。

huìyì gǎi dào sān diǎn, lìngwài, dìdiǎn yě huàn le

The meeting's moved to three; also, on a separate note, the venue has changed. (neutral)

何况 / 更何况 — "let alone"

何况 (often 更何况 "all the more so") makes an a fortiori argument: if the milder case already holds, the stronger one holds even more. It frequently follows a 连…都 ("even… ") clause.

大人都搬不动，何况一个孩子。

dàrén dōu bān bú dòng, hékuàng yí ge háizi

Even an adult can't lift it, let alone a child. (neutral)

平时就够忙了，更何况现在是考试周。

píngshí jiù gòu máng le, gèng hékuàng xiànzài shì kǎoshì zhōu

I'm busy enough as it is — all the more so now that it's exam week. (informal)

Common Mistakes

1. Using 而且 to join two bare nouns. 而且 links clauses, not nouns. To join "coffee and tea" you need 和, not 而且.

❌ 我喜欢咖啡而且茶。

Wrong connector — 而且 joins clauses, not nouns; two nouns take 和: 咖啡和茶.

✅ 我喜欢咖啡和茶。

wǒ xǐhuan kāfēi hé chá

I like coffee and tea.

2. Reaching for 而且 where 并且 fits. In formal writing that links two parallel verb phrases about one subject, 并且 reads better than the more casual 而且.

❌ 委员会审查了报告，而且提出了修改意见。

✅ 委员会审查了报告，并且提出了修改意见。

wěiyuánhuì shěnchá le bàogào, bìngqiě tíchū le xiūgǎi yìjiàn

The committee reviewed the report and put forward revisions. (formal)

3. Using 再说 in formal writing. 再说 is distinctly spoken and argumentative; in an essay or report, use 而且 or 此外 instead.

❌ 本产品性能稳定，再说价格合理。

✅ 本产品性能稳定，而且价格合理。

běn chǎnpǐn xìngnéng wěndìng, érqiě jiàgé hélǐ

This product performs reliably, and its price is reasonable. (formal)

4. Treating 另外 as a plain "and." 另外 signals a separate item; using it for a point that simply continues the same thread sounds disjointed — use 而且 there.

❌ 这里风景好，另外空气也很新鲜。

Slightly off — the same thread (why the place is nice) wants continuative 而且; 另外 implies a separate topic.

✅ 这里风景好，而且空气也很新鲜。

zhèlǐ fēngjǐng hǎo, érqiě kōngqì yě hěn xīnxiān

The scenery here is lovely, and the air is fresh too.

Key Takeaways

All five open a clause; none of them joins bare nouns — that's 和's job.
而且 = neutral default "moreover"; 并且 = formal, links parallel verb phrases; 再说 = spoken, adds a clinching reason; 另外 = a separate additional item; 何况/更何况 = "let alone," an a-fortiori escalation.
Match register: 再说 is for speech, 并且 and 此外 for the page.
而且 is also the closer of the 不但…而且 frame — the same word, doing double duty.

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