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[http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933 [[File:Expressing%20%22not%E2%80%A6%20but%E2%80%A6%22%20with%20%22er%20shi%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg]]]

[[#|[[File:Expressing%20%22not%E2%80%A6%20but%E2%80%A6%22%20with%20%22er%20shi%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png]]]] = Expressing "not… but…" with "er shi" =

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGT9WYR [[File:Expressing%20%22not%E2%80%A6%20but%E2%80%A6%22%20with%20%22er%20shi%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/link.png]]]

Level

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points B1]
Similar to
- [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22on_the_contrary%22_with_%22fan%27er%22 Expressing "on the contrary" with "fan'er"] (B2)
Used for

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Giving_alternatives Giving alternatives], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Contrasting Contrasting], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Differentiating Differentiating]
Keywords

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF 不是], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%80%8C%E6%98%AF 而是], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%98%AF 是]
Translations

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Not not], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/But but]

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu_shi.jpg [[File:Expressing%20%22not%E2%80%A6%20but%E2%80%A6%22%20with%20%22er%20shi%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu_shi.jpg|300x300px|Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu shi.jpg]]]

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. This is a useful phrase to use in arguments to overturn a point of view and state the opposite.

== Contents == [[[#|hide]]]

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

Subj. + 不是⋯⋯ ，(而)是⋯⋯

== Examples ==

* 我觉得这 ''不是'' 麻烦，''而是'' 机会。Wǒ juéde zhè ''bùshì'' máfan, ''érshì'' jīhuì.I don't think it's trouble. I think it's an opportunity. * 她 ''不是'' 不想买，''而是'' 买不起。Tā ''bù shì'' bù xiǎng mǎi, ''ér shì'' mǎi bu qǐ.It's not that she doesn't want to buy it, it's that she couldn't afford it. * 我没说 ''不是'' 想骗你，''而是'' 怕你不高兴。Wǒ méi shuō ''bù shì'' xiǎng piàn nǐ, ''ér shì'' pà nǐ bù gāoxìng.The reason why I didn't tell is not that I wanted to lie to you; it's that I'm afraid you would be upset. * 我 ''不是'' 八卦，''是'' 关心你。Wǒ ''bù shì'' bāguà, ''shì'' guānxīn nǐ.I'm not gossiping. I'm concerned about you. * 我 ''不是'' 不想帮你，''而是'' 没有能力帮你。Wǒ ''bù shì'' bù xiǎng bāng nǐ, ''ér shì'' méiyǒu nénglì bāng nǐ.It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't help. * 重要的 ''不是'' 你的外表，''而是'' 你的内心。Zhòngyào de ''bù shì'' nǐ de wàibiǎo, ''ér shì'' nǐ de nèixīn.What's important is not how you look outside, it's your inside. * 生活中 ''不是'' 缺少美，''而是'' 缺少发现美的眼睛。Shēnghuó zhōng ''bù shì'' quēshǎo měi, ''ér shì'' quēshǎo fāxiàn měi de yǎnjing.Beauty is found everywhere. To our eyes, it is not a lack of beauty but a lack of discovery.

You can also put 不是 in the second half. Note that 而 can't be used in this case.

Subj. + 是⋯⋯ ，不是⋯⋯

Some examples:

* 我们 ''是'' 来办事的，''不是'' 来玩的。Wǒmen ''shì'' lái bànshì de, ''bù shì'' lái wán de.We're here to do our job, not to have fun. * 你这样做 ''是'' 害他，''不是'' 帮他。Nǐ zhèyàng zuò ''shì'' hài tā, ''bù shì'' bāng tā.You were hurting him by doing this, not helping him. * 不好意思，我 ''是'' 不小心，''不是'' 故意的。Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ ''shì'' bù xiǎoxīn, ''bù shì'' gùyì de.I'm sorry. It was an innocent mistake. I didn't mean to do that.

== See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22On_the_contrary%22_with_%22fan%27er%22 "On the contrary" with "fan'er"] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Conceding_a_point_with_%22shi%22 Conceding a point with "shi"] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1 Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1] (pp. 277) [http://amzn.to/2fdV2l3 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4) New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)] (pp. 20) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8B%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）] (pp. 516) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories Category]: * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points B1 grammar points]

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