两回事 (liǎng huí shì) — two entirely different things; two separate matters

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'two completely different things' — used to insist that two things should not be confused or compared. Almost always appears in the pattern 是两回事 or 不是一回事.

noun
two entirely different thingstwo separate matters

Examples

  • 两回事
    Gōng zuò hé xué xí shì liǎng huí shì, bù néng hùn wéi yì tán.
    Work and study are two entirely different things and cannot be lumped together.
  • 两回事
    Tā shuō de hé zuò de wán quán shì liǎng huí shì.
    What he says and what he does are completely two different matters.
  • 两回事
    Zhè bú shì qián de wèn tí, nà shì liǎng huí shì.
    This is not a money issue; that is a separate matter.

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