不是 (bù shi) — not be (negates a noun or noun phrase after 是); either…or… (in the structure 不是…就是…); not…but… (in the structure 不是…而是…)
Definition
不是 negates the noun (or noun phrase) that follows 是 — it is only used with 是, not as a general ‘not.’ In the patterns 不是…就是… ('either…or…') and 不是…而是… ('not…but…'), it sets up a contrast between two options.
verb
not be (negates a noun or noun phrase after 是)either…or… (in the structure 不是…就是…)not…but… (in the structure 不是…而是…)
Examples
- 不是，。Tā bù shi lǎo shī, shì xué shēng.He is not a teacher; he is a student.
- 不是。Tā bù shi qù běi jīng jiù shì qù shàng hǎi.He is either going to Beijing or to Shanghai.
- 不是，。Zhè bù shi nǐ de cuò, ér shì wǒ de cuò.This is not your fault, but rather my fault.
Grammar
Appears in
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