不是⋯⋯而是⋯⋯ (bù shì... ér shì) means "not A, but rather B." This is
a useful phrase to use in arguments to overturn a point of view and
state the opposite.
Structure
A above is the undesirable option, and B is the desirable
option. The same could be expressed as follows:
Examples
For example:
- 我 不 是 不 想 帮忙 而 是 没有 能力 帮忙。It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't
help.
- 我 认为 有的人 做 慈善 活动 的 目的 不 是 为了 帮助 穷人 而 是 为了 提高
他们 的 名誉。I think that some people do charitable
things, not only to help poor people, but also to improve their
reputation.
See also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Websites
Category:
B2 grammar points