多重复句 (three levels or more): nested complex sentences
【高128】复句 / complex sentences (多重复句)
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
A multi-level complex sentence (多重复句) nests its clauses like boxes: a first level separates two big blocks, each block may hold a relation of its own, and one of those relations may open onto a third. hsk5-g73 stopped at two levels and advised splitting beyond that; careful writing (speeches, theses, reports) accepts three or more.
Example from the standard (高128): 他对中文感兴趣，而且对中国文化也十分好奇，所以决定去中国留学，但遭到了父母的反对。 Reading: [ [ [ 他对中文感兴趣，而且对中国文化也十分好奇 ]，所以决定去中国留学 ]，但遭到了父母的反对 ]. Level 1: 但 (contrast) separates everything before it from "his parents objected"; level 2: 所以 (consequence) links both motives to the decision; level 3: 而且 (progression) joins the interest and the curiosity.
How to read: (1) spot the connectives; (2) find the one that links the two biggest blocks, which is level 1; (3) go down into each block. To write, mark the first cut with a stronger sign, the semicolon ；: the punctuation standard GB/T 15834-2011 (4.6.3.2) prescribes it for the first cut of a non-coordinate multi-level sentence (by its account chiefly a contrast or a choice), for instance 昨天夜里下了一场雨，以为可以凉快些；谁知没有凉快下来，反而更热了。 So in our speech: 我们不但熬过了论文，而且熬过了答辩，所以今天才能坐在这里；但真正的考试，才刚刚开始。 Beyond three levels, it is better to cut into sentences (句群, hsk7-g78).
Examples
他不但会做饭，而且做得很好，所以朋友们都爱去他家，但他自己从不炫耀。
Tā búdàn huì zuòfàn, érqiě zuò de hěn hǎo, suǒyǐ péngyoumen dōu ài qù tā jiā, dàn tā zìjǐ cóng bù xuànyào.He not only cooks but cooks very well, so his friends love going to his place, yet he never shows off.
他对中文感兴趣，而且对中国文化也十分好奇，所以决定去中国留学，但遭到了父母的反对。
Tā duì Zhōngwén gǎn xìngqù, érqiě duì Zhōngguó wénhuà yě shífēn hàoqí, suǒyǐ juédìng qù Zhōngguó liúxué, dàn zāodào le fùmǔ de fǎnduì.He is interested in Chinese and is also very curious about Chinese culture, so he decides to study in China, but his parents object.
我们不但熬过了论文，而且熬过了答辩，所以今天才能坐在这里；但真正的考试，才刚刚开始。
Wǒmen búdàn áoguòle lùnwén, érqiě áoguòle dábiàn, suǒyǐ jīntiān cái néng zuò zài zhèlǐ; dàn zhēnzhèng de kǎoshì, cái gānggāng kāishǐ.We got through not only our theses but also our defences, which is why we can sit here today; but the real examination has only just begun.
如果没有他的耐心，我也许早就放弃了，所以今天我特别想感谢他，尽管他总说这是应该做的。
Rúguǒ méiyǒu tā de nàixīn, wǒ yěxǔ zǎo jiù fàngqì le, suǒyǐ jīntiān wǒ tèbié xiǎng gǎnxiè tā, jǐnguǎn tā zǒng shuō zhè shì yīnggāi zuò de.Without his patience I would probably have given up long ago, which is why I especially want to thank him today, even though he always says it was only his duty.
如果选择留在大城市，就要习惯高房租和快节奏；如果选择回到家乡，就要习惯机会少一些，但生活会从容得多。
Rúguǒ xuǎnzé liú zài dà chéngshì, jiù yào xíguàn gāo fángzū hé kuài jiézòu; rúguǒ xuǎnzé huídào jiāxiāng, jiù yào xíguàn jīhuì shǎo yìxiē, dàn shēnghuó huì cóngróng de duō.If you choose to stay in the big city, you must get used to high rents and a fast pace; if you choose to go back to your hometown, you must get used to fewer opportunities, but life is far more relaxed.
Common mistakes
✗ reading "所以决定去中国留学" as following only from "对中国文化也十分好奇" → 所以 answers the whole block 他对中文感兴趣，而且对中国文化也十分好奇 (both motives together).
✗ 他不但会做饭；而且做得很好，所以朋友们都爱去他家，但他从不炫耀。 → ✓ 他不但会做饭，而且做得很好，所以朋友们都爱去他家；但他从不炫耀。 (the semicolon marks the highest cut, never the lowest).