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

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== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
"不是⋯⋯, ()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⋯⋯, ()是⋯⋯" (bùshì..., (ér)shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can be verb phrases or noun phrases.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 不是 + Noun 1 ,是 + Noun 2
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</div>
  
Subj. + 不是 + Adj./Noun/Verb 1 + 是 + Adj./Noun/Verb 2
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<div class="jiegou">
 
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Subj. + 不是 + [Verb Phrase 1] ,是 + [Verb Phrase 2]
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 01:58, 12 September 2017

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⋯⋯, (而)是⋯⋯" (bùshì..., (ér)shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can be verb phrases or noun phrases.

Subj. + 不是 + Noun 1 ,是 + Noun 2

Subj. + 不是 + [Verb Phrase 1] ,是 + [Verb Phrase 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