不說…還…grammar point · tier 2 · additive escalation 不說…還… (X goes without saying; on top of that Y)
Stacks two merits: 不說 waves the first off as already granted, 還 lands a further, weightier one on top.
字源 FORM what the parts do
不說 closes the first point as a given — 不 the borrowed negation, 說 to say it; together, leave it unsaid. 還 opens the second slot and adds onto it — a road (辶), 睘 huán for the sound, the return-word worn into still, yet, more.
故事 STORY a scene to remember it by
A first item is set down and granted in passing; a heavier one drops on top of it.
字源記憶法
框 · Frame
[subj] [merit-1] 不說，還 [merit-2, weightier]
觸 · Trigger
One point about someone is already strong; you grant it without dwelling, then pile a bigger one on.
例 · Examples
1他寫作能力writing ability好good, strong不說set aside as given; goes without saying，還on top of that; additionally得過has won演講比賽speech contest第一名first place。
His writing ability is strong, and that goes without saying — on top of that he took first place in a speech contest.
越…越… ties two things rising together on one scale. 不說…還… lists two separate merits, the second heavier than the first.
他還得過第一名不說，寫作能力好。 ✗ → 他寫作能力好不說，還得過第一名。 ✓ (the climax belongs after 還, not inside 不說)
他寫作能力好不說，但是得過第一名。 ✗ → 他寫作能力好不說，還得過第一名。 ✓ (no turn; the second clause adds, so it takes 還, not 但是)
他寫作能力不好不說，還得過第一名。 ✗ → 他寫作能力好不說，還得過第一名。 ✓ (both clauses run positive; a negative first merit breaks the stack)
English 'not to mention' front-loads the afterthought, so learners reach for it where the real climax goes; in 不說…還… the dismissed point comes first and the big one lands after 還.