Decoded Slug: 不是...而是... (bùshì... érshì...) - It's not... but...
Mandarin Grammar Point
不是...而是... (bùshì... érshì...) - It's not... but...
不是...而是... (bùshì... érshì...) - It's not... but...
Short explanation:
Used to correct a misconception or to emphasize the true nature of a situation or thing.
Formation:
不是 + Misunderstood or wrong aspect + 而是 + Correct or true aspect
Examples:
我来这里不是玩的，而是工作的。
Wǒ lái zhèlǐ bùshì wán de, érshì gōngzuò de.
I come here not for play, but for work.
他不是我的朋友，而是我的兄弟。
Tā bùshì wǒ de péngyǒu, érshì wǒ de xiōngdì.
He is not my friend, but my brother.
他们不是在打篮球，而是在打排球。
Tāmen bùshì zài dǎ lánqiú, érshì zài dǎ páiqiú.
They are not playing basketball, but volleyball.
明天我们不是去游泳，而是去爬山。
Míngtiān wǒmen bùshì qù yóuyǒng, érshì qù páshān.
Tomorrow we are not going swimming, but mountain climbing.
Long explanation:
The Mandarin Chinese phrase '不是...而是... (bùshì... érshì...)' is used to clarify a situation or thing by indicating that it is not one thing (first part), but indeed it is another thing (second part). In other words, it helps to correct a misunderstanding or to emphasize a contrast. It is equivalent to 'It's not... but...' in English.
