Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not… but…" with "er shi""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
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| + | 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 == | == Structure == | ||
| − | "不是..., 是..." (búshì..., shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can range from adjectives, verbs and even noun phrases. | + | "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 | + | Subject + 不是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #1 + (就)是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #2 |
</div> | </div> | ||
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*那 <em>不是</em> 一 个 困难，<em>是</em> 一 个 机会。<span class="trans">That isn't a difficulty, it's an opportunity.</span> | *那 <em>不是</em> 一 个 困难，<em>是</em> 一 个 机会。<span class="trans">That isn't a difficulty, it's an opportunity.</span> | ||
*他 <em>不是</em> 中国人，<em>是</em> 美国人。<span class="trans">He isn't Chinese, he's American.</span> | *他 <em>不是</em> 中国人，<em>是</em> 美国人。<span class="trans">He isn't Chinese, he's American.</span> | ||
| − | *这 个 大楼 <em>不是</em> 公寓，<em> | + | *这 个 大楼 <em>不是</em> 公寓，<em>就是</em> 办公楼。<span class="trans">This building isn't an apartment building, it's an office building.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
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| + | ===Books=== | ||
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| + | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 277) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy] | ||
'''SOURCES NEEDED''' | '''SOURCES NEEDED''' | ||
Revision as of 01:52, 17 June 2013
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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.
Subject + 不是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #1 + (就)是 + Adjective/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
- 那 不是 一 个 困难，是 一 个 机会。That isn't a difficulty, it's an opportunity.
- 他 不是 中国人，是 美国人。He isn't Chinese, he's American.
- 这 个 大楼 不是 公寓，就是 办公楼。This building isn't an apartment building, it's an office building.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 277) →buy
SOURCES NEEDED
