不是…而是…
HSK 3- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to negate the first clause and affirm the second, meaning "it is not... but rather...".
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 不是…而是… is used to correct incorrect information or a mistaken viewpoint while providing the accurate information. The 不是 clause negates what is incorrect, while the 而是 clause affirms what is correct and carries the emphasis of the sentence.
The two parts A and B must share the same part of speech or grammatical structure — for example, both nouns, both verbs, or both phrases.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他不是我哥哥，而是我男朋友。Tā bú shì wǒ gēge, ér shì wǒ nánpéngyou.
He is not my older brother, but my boyfriend.
- 我不是不喜欢，而是没时间。繁: 我不是不喜歡，而是沒時間。Wǒ bú shì bù xǐhuān, ér shì méi shíjiān.
It's not that I don't like it, but rather that I don't have the time.
- 这本书不是我的，而是老师的。繁: 這本書不是我的，而是老師的。Zhè běn shū bú shì wǒ de, ér shì lǎoshī de.
This book is not mine, but rather the teacher's.
- 我们不是坐火车，而是坐飞机。繁: 我們不是坐火車，而是坐飛機。Wǒmen bú shì zuò huǒchē, ér shì zuò fēijī.
We didn't take the train, but rather took the airplane.
- 我不是生气，而是有点儿累。繁: 我不是生氣，而是有點兒累。Wǒ bú shì shēngqì, ér shì yǒudiǎnr lèi.
I'm not angry, I'm just a bit tired.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他不是学生，是老师。Correct:他不是学生，而是老师。
Missing `而`. The structure `而是` is a fixed pair that emphasizes correction and makes the sentence clearer and more coherent.
- Wrong:我不是不想去，但是没有钱。Correct:我不是不想去，而是没有钱。
但是 (but) only indicates a shift in thought, while 而是 (but rather) is used to negate the first clause and affirm the second. In this case, 而是 is more appropriate.