并非如此 (bìng fēi rú cǐ) — it is not so; this is not the case

Definition

Written/formal idiom meaning 'this is not the case' — used in essays, reports, or argumentation to refute a claim. Colloquially speakers usually say 不是这样 or 其实不是.

idiom
it is not sothis is not the case

Examples

  • ，并非如此。
    Hěn duō rén yǐ wéi tā hěn zì sī, qí shí bìng fēi rú cǐ.
    Many people think he is very selfish, but actually this is not the case.
  • ，并非如此，。
    Nǐ huái yí tā tōu le qián, dàn bìng fēi rú cǐ, tā yǒu chōng fèn de bú zài chǎng zhèng míng.
    You suspect he stole the money, but that is not the case — he has a solid alibi.
  • ，并非如此，。
    Biǎo miàn shàng kàn wèn tí hěn jiǎn dān, bìng fēi rú cǐ, bèi hòu shè jí hěn duō fù zá yīn sù.
    On the surface the problem looks simple, but it is not so — there are many complex factors involved.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 并 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

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Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

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Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

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