You criticize someone hoping they'll improve, and instead they get worse. That's exactly the kind of backfire scenario that 非但...反而 (fēidàn...fǎn'ér) — "Not Only Not...But Instead" — captures. This HSK 6 grammar pattern lets you set up what was supposed to happen, then deliver the surprising opposite.
The structure is: 非但 + 没/不 + Expected，反而 + Opposite. You use 非但 (fēidàn) with 不 (bù) or 没 (méi) to establish what didn't happen, then follow with 反而 (fǎn'ér) to introduce the unexpected outcome nobody saw coming.
Here is the key sentence you'll work with:
他非但不承认错误，反而把责任推给了别人。 (tā fēidàn bù chéngrèn cuòwù, fǎn'ér bǎ zérèn tuī gěi le biérén.) — "He not only didn't admit his mistake, but instead pushed the blame onto someone else."
Another example from the lesson: 批评他，他非但不改，反而更过分了 (pīpíng tā, tā fēidàn bù gǎi, fǎn'ér gèng guòfèn le) — "Criticizing him, he not only didn't change, but actually got worse."
This 10-minute live conversation lesson, titled "When Things Backfire," targets exactly this one grammar point. You talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin, who corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level. By the end, you'll be able to describe situations where an action produced the opposite of its intended effect — like a policy that made things worse, or help that caused more trouble.
You can try the first lesson free — no credit card required to start talking with Mei Lin. Afterward, explore more HSK 6 lessons or move on to another HSK 6 live lesson on 要不是 (yàobúshì). For handwriting practice, try the free printable Chinese worksheet generator.
非但...反而 (fēidàn...fǎn'ér) translates to "Not Only Not...But Instead." You use 非但 with 不 or 没 to state what didn't happen, then 反而 to introduce the unexpected opposite. For example, 他非但不承认错误，反而把责任推给了别人 means "He not only didn't admit his mistake, but instead pushed the blame onto someone else."
Use 非但...反而 when an action produced the opposite of its intended effect — like a policy that made things worse or help that caused more trouble. The "When Things Backfire" lesson trains you to describe these situations out loud with Mei Lin, who corrects your grammar in real time as you speak.
Each live conversation lesson targets one grammar pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. In "When Things Backfire," you'll practice 非但...反而 by talking with AI teacher Mei Lin, who adapts to your level and corrects pronunciation in the flow of conversation.
You can print handwriting worksheets with the free Chinese Worksheet Generator, which offers ready-made packs for HSK 1–3 words. For the HSK 6 characters in this lesson, use the generator alongside your live speaking practice with Mei Lin.