而是 (ér shì) — (conjunction) rather, but rather, on the contrary (used in 不是…而是… pattern)
Definition
A conjunction used only in the 不是…而是… ('not X, but Y') pattern to contrast Y with the negated X. Always paired with a preceding 不是.
conjunction
ratherbut ratheron the contrary (used in 不是…而是… pattern)
Examples
- ，而是。Tā bú shì méi shí jiān, ér shì bù xiǎng qù.It's not that he doesn't have time, but rather he doesn't want to go.
- ，而是。Zhè ge wèn tí bú shì jì shù wèn tí, ér shì guǎn lǐ wèn tí.This issue is not a technical problem but rather a management one.
- ，而是。Chéng gōng de guān jiàn bú shì yùn qì, ér shì chí xù de nǔ lì.The key to success is not luck but rather persistent effort.
Grammar
Appears in
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