To negate the previous statement – 不是 búshì

Grammar Point:
This structure is a little confusing because the meaning of 不是 búshì is not just “is not”; it actually means “it is not true that.” This grammar structure is commonly used to express the negation of the previous statement.

Structure

不是 + Statement

電視diànshì說shuō今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì很冷hěnlěng， 可是kěshì我wǒ覺得juéde不是búshì很冷hěnlěng电视diànshì说shuō今天jīntiān天气tiānqì很冷hěnlěng， 可是kěshì我wǒ觉得juéde不是búshì很冷hěnlěng
The TV said today’s weather is very cold, but I don’t think it is true that it’s very cold.

這zhè個ge菜cài應該yīnggāi用yòng烤的kǎode， 不是búshì用yòng蒸的zhēngde这zhè个ge菜cài应该yīnggāi用yòng烤的kǎode， 不是búshì用yòng蒸的zhēngde
This dish should be baked, (it is not true that) it should be steamed.

我wǒ不是búshì點diǎn熱的rède咖啡kāfēi， 是shì冰的bīngde咖啡kāfēi我wǒ不是búshì点diǎn热的rède咖啡kāfēi， 是shì冰的bīngde咖啡kāfēi
I didn’t order hot coffee; it’s iced coffee.

他tā不是búshì特別tèbié聰明cōngmíng， 但是dànshì很hěn努力nǔlì他tā不是búshì特别tèbié聪明cōngmíng， 但是dànshì很hěn努力nǔlì
He isn’t particularly intelligent, but he works hard.

我wǒ不是búshì不bù想xiǎng吃chī， 只是zhǐshì我wǒ太tài飽bǎo了le我wǒ不是búshì不bù想xiǎng吃chī， 只是zhǐshì我wǒ太tài饱bǎo了le
It’s not that I don’t want to eat; I’m just too full.

我wǒ記得jìdé她tā不是búshì住zhù在zài河南hénán， 是shì住zhù在zài湖南húnán我wǒ记得jìdé她tā不是búshì住zhù在zài河南hénán， 是shì住zhù在zài湖南húnán
I remember she doesn’t live in Henan; she lives in Hunan.

我wǒ沒méi買mǎi那nà雙shuāng鞋子xiézi， 不是búshì因為yīnwèi我wǒ沒有méiyǒu錢qián我wǒ没méi买mǎi那nà双shuāng鞋子xiézi， 不是búshì因为yīnwèi我wǒ没有méiyǒu钱qián
didn’t buy those shoes, not because I don’t have money.

With 是 and Without 是

In practical terms, the difference is subtle, and in many cases, the two sentences can be used interchangeably without a significant change in meaning. The choice may depend on the speaker’s preference for a slightly more explicit emphasis or a straightforward statement.

A：你nǐ孩子háizi成績chéngjī這麼zhème好hǎo， 一定yídìng很hěn聰明cōngmíng你nǐ孩子háizi成绩chéngjì这么zhème好hǎo， 一定yídìng很hěn聪明cōngmíng
Your child’s grades are so good; he must be very intelligent.

B：他tā不是búshì特別tèbié聰明cōngmíng， 但是dànshì很hěn努力nǔlì他tā不是búshì特别tèbié聪明cōngmíng， 但是dànshì很hěn努力nǔlì
He isn’t particularly intelligent, but he works hard.

A：你nǐ孩子háizi的de成績chéngjī怎麼樣zěnmeyàng？ 你nǐ孩子háizi的de成绩chéngjì怎么样zěnmeyàng？
How is your child’s academic performance?

B：他tā不bú特別tèbié聰明cōngmíng， 但是dànshì很hěn努力nǔlì他tā不bú特别tèbié聪明cōngmíng， 但是dànshì很hěn努力nǔlì
He isn’t particularly intelligent, but he works hard.