Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not… but…" with "er shi""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | Sometimes you want to explain that an object, concept, or event isn't one thing, but in fact a different thing. | + | Sometimes you want to explain that an object, concept, or event isn't one thing, but in fact a different thing. 不是⋯⋯， (而)是⋯⋯ (bùshì..., (ér)shì...) is the perfect structure to convey that in Chinese. An easy way to remember this pattern is that it roughly corresponds to the English, "Something is not X, it's Y." |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *我觉得 这 <em>不是</em> 麻烦，<em>而是</em> 机会 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhè <em>bù shì</em> máfan, <em>érshì</em> jīhuì.</span><span class="trans">I don't think it's trouble. I think it's an opportunity.</span> |
*我们 <em>不是</em> 来 玩 的 ，<em>是</em> 来 办事 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù shì</em> lái wán de, <em>shì</em> lái bànshì de.</span><span class="trans">We're not here to have fun. We're here to get our job done.</span> | *我们 <em>不是</em> 来 玩 的 ，<em>是</em> 来 办事 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù shì</em> lái wán de, <em>shì</em> lái bànshì de.</span><span class="trans">We're not here to have fun. We're here to get our job done.</span> | ||
*我 <em>不是</em> 八卦 ，<em>是</em> 关心 你 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù shì</em> bāguà, <em>shì</em> guānxīn nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I'm not gossiping. I'm concerned about you.</span> | *我 <em>不是</em> 八卦 ，<em>是</em> 关心 你 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù shì</em> bāguà, <em>shì</em> guānxīn nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I'm not gossiping. I'm concerned about you.</span> | ||
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|不是|B1|不是⋯⋯，是⋯⋯| | + | {{Basic Grammar|不是|B1|不是⋯⋯，是⋯⋯|我觉得 这 <em>不是</em> 麻烦，<em>而是</em> 机会 。|grammar point|ASGT9WYR}} |
{{Rel char|而是}} | {{Rel char|而是}} | ||
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}} | {{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}} | ||
Revision as of 02:52, 2 January 2018
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Used for
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Keywords
Sometimes you want to explain that an object, concept, or event isn't one thing, but in fact a different thing. 不是⋯⋯， (而)是⋯⋯ (bùshì..., (ér)shì...) is the perfect structure to convey that in Chinese. An easy way to remember this pattern is that it roughly corresponds to the English, "Something is not X, it's Y."
Structure
Subj. + 不是 ⋯⋯ ，(而)是 ⋯⋯
It's used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can be noun phrases or verb phrases.
Examples
- 我觉得 这 不是 麻烦，而是 机会 。I don't think it's trouble. I think it's an opportunity.
- 我们 不是 来 玩 的 ，是 来 办事 的 。We're not here to have fun. We're here to get our job done.
- 我 不是 八卦 ，是 关心 你 。I'm not gossiping. I'm concerned about you.
- 重要 的 不是 你 的 外表 ，而是 你 的 内心 。What's important is not how you look outside, it's your inside.
- 我 不是 故意 的 ，是 不 小心 。I didn't mean to, it's an innocent mistake.
- 你 这样 做 不是 帮 他 ，是 害 他 。You were not helping him by doing this, you're hurting him.
- 他 这样 做 不是 为了 自己 ，是 为了 团队 。He didn't do this for himself. He did this for the team.
- 他 不是 不 喜欢 你 ，是 跟 你 还 不 熟 。It's not that he doesn't like you, it's just he's unacquainted with you.
- 我 帮 你 不是 想 让 你 感谢 我 ，而是 想 跟 你 和好 。The reason why I helped you is not to make you grateful to me, but to make up with you.
- 生活 中 不是 缺少 美 ，而是 缺少 发现 美 的 眼睛 。Beauty is found everywhere. To our eyes, it is not a lack of beauty but a lack of discovery.
