Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not… but…" with "er shi""

m (Text replace - "{{Grammar Box}} " to "{{Grammar Box}} ")
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== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
"不是..., (就)是..." (búshì..., (jiù)shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can range from adjectives, verbs and even noun phrases.
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"不是⋯⋯, (就)是⋯⋯" (búshì..., (jiù)shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can range from adjectives, verbs and even noun phrases.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 不是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #1 + 是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #2
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Subj. + 不是 + Adj./Noun/Verb #1 + 是 + Adj./Noun/Verb #2
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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==See also==
 
==See also==
*[["Not… but rather…" with "er shi"]]
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*[["Not⋯⋯ but rather⋯⋯" with "er shi"]]
 
*[["On the contrary" with "fan'er"]]
 
*[["On the contrary" with "fan'er"]]
  
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|不是|B1|不是… 是…|<em>不 是</em> 问题,<em>是</em> 机会。|grammar point|ASGT9WYR}}
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{{Basic Grammar|不是|B1|不是⋯⋯ 是⋯⋯|<em>不 是</em> 问题,<em>是</em> 机会。|grammar point|ASGT9WYR}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
 
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}}
 
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}}
{{Similar|"Not… But Rather…" with "er shi"}}
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{{Similar|"Not⋯⋯ But Rather⋯⋯" with "er shi"}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}

Revision as of 07:21, 20 October 2016

Sometimes you want to explain that an object, concept, or event isn't one thing, but in fact a different thing. This is the perfect structure to convey that in Chinese.

Structure

"不是⋯⋯, (就)是⋯⋯" (búshì..., (jiù)shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can range from adjectives, verbs and even noun phrases.

Subj. + 不是 + Adj./Noun/Verb #1 + 是 + Adj./Noun/Verb #2

An easy way to remember this pattern is that it roughly corresponds to the English, "Something is not X, it's Y".

Examples

  • 不是 一 个 困难, 一 个 机会。That isn't a difficulty, it's an opportunity.
  • 不是 中国人, 美国人。He isn't Chinese, he's American.
  • 这 个 大楼 不是 公寓, 办公楼。This building isn't an apartment building, it's an office building.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4