“Not… but rather…” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
This Chinese structure is used to make a contrast, similar to saying “It’s not… but rather…” in English. The pattern is used when you want to correct or clarify something by presenting an alternative or more accurate statement.

Structure

不是 + situation A + 而是 + situation B

我wǒ不是búshì不bù同意tóngyì而是érshì聽tīng不bú太tài懂dǒng我wǒ不是búshì不bù同意tóngyì而是érshì听tīng不bú太tài懂dǒng
It’s not that I disagree; I just don’t quite get it.

不是búshì小王xiǎowáng不想bùxiǎng去qù， 而是érshì他tā沒méi時間shíjiān不是búshì小王xiǎowáng不想bùxiǎng去qù， 而是érshì他tā没méi时间shíjiān
It’s not that Xiao Wang doesn’t want to go; he just doesn’t have the time.

這zhè件jiàn事shì錯cuò的de不是búshì我wǒ而是érshì他tā这zhè件jiàn事shì错cuò的de不是búshì我wǒ而是érshì他tā
It’s not my fault, it’s his.

他tā不是búshì不會búhuì做zuò， 而是érshì不想bùxiǎng做zuò他tā不是búshì不会búhuì做zuò， 而是érshì不想bùxiǎng做zuò
It’s not that he can’t do it, but rather that he doesn’t want to.

我wǒ選xuǎn這個zhège不是búshì因為yīnwèi便宜piányí， 而是érshì因為yīnwèi質量zhìliàng我wǒ选xuǎn这个zhège不是búshì因为yīnwèi便宜piányí， 而是érshì因为yīnwèi质量zhìliàng
I chose this not because it’s cheap, but because it’s of quality.

這zhè事shì不是búshì你nǐ一個人yígerén說shuō了le算suàn， 而是érshì要yào大家dàjiā討論tǎolùn这zhè事shì不是búshì你nǐ一个人yígerén说shuō了le算suàn， 而是érshì要yào大家dàjiā讨论tǎolùn
This isn’t something you can decide on your own; it needs everyone’s input.

那nà不是búshì用yòng來lái喝茶hēchá的de而是érshì用yòng來lái洗xǐ杯子bēizi的de那nà不是búshì用yòng来lái喝茶hēchá的de而是érshì用yòng来lái洗xǐ杯子bēizi的de
That’s not for drinking tea; it’s for washing cups.

FYI
In Hong Kong, it’s pretty common to use hot tea to wash your utensils before eating, especially at places like dai pai dong (those open-air food stalls), traditional Cantonese restaurants, and dim sum spots. You’ll usually find a big bowl on the table, along with some hot tea. The idea is to pour the tea over your bowls, chopsticks, and other utensils to give them an extra rinse before you start your meal. Even though the utensils are already cleaned by the restaurant, this little ritual adds a sense of cleanliness and tradition that’s all part of the dining experience.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ It’s not that I don’t want to travel; it’s just that my wallet says no.

我wǒ不是búshì不想bùxiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng， 而是érshì錢包qiánbāo不bù允許yǔnxǔ我wǒ不是búshì不想bùxiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng， 而是érshì钱包qiánbāo不bù允许yǔnxǔ

✔️ It’s not that he forgot; he never intended to remember in the first place.

他tā不是búshì忘了wàngle， 而是érshì根本gēnběn沒méi打算dǎsuàn記住jìzhù他tā不是búshì忘了wàngle， 而是érshì根本gēnběn没méi打算dǎsuàn记住jìzhù

✔️ It’s not that the movie is bad; I’m just not in the mood.

這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng不是búshì不bù好看hǎokàn， 而是érshì我wǒ沒méi心情xīnqíng这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng不是búshì不bù好看hǎokàn， 而是érshì我wǒ没méi心情xīnqíng