不是...而是... (búshì...érshì) in Chinese
不是…而是…
不是...而是... rejects or corrects one description and replaces it with another. 不是 introduces the rejected alternative, while 而是 introduces the intended one. The two parts should contrast comparable roles, such as two causes, identities, actions, or qualities. A subject shared by both parts normally appears before 不是.
Published July 17, 2026
Reviewed July 17, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 不是 + A, 而是 + B (contrast)
Read the structure
不是...而是... rejects or corrects one description and replaces it with another. 不是 introduces the rejected alternative, while 而是 introduces the intended one. The two parts should contrast comparable roles, such as two causes, identities, actions, or qualities. A subject shared by both parts normally appears before 不是. Keep the model Subject + 不是 + A, 而是 + B (contrast) visible while you compare each sentence.
他不是老师，而是医生。
He is not a teacher but a doctor.
Choose the right context
To correct an identity: 他不是老师，而是医生。 To replace one cause with another: 我迟到不是因为起晚了，而是因为地铁停了。 To contrast two actions by one subject: 她不是不想去，而是没有时间。
我迟到不是因为起晚了，而是因为地铁停了。
I was late not because I got up late, but because the subway stopped.
Respect the boundary
For a simple contrast where the first statement remains true; use 但是 or 可是 instead. Do not stack 不是 and 而是 before the rejected alternative. Do not force two unrelated grammatical roles into the A and B slots; the correction needs a parallel contrast.
他不是而是老师，是医生。
(He is not a teacher but a doctor.)
Repair the pattern
Both markers are stacked before the rejected alternative: 不是 must introduce the rejected identity 老师, and 而是 must introduce the replacement 医生. 而是 is placed after the subject of its replacement clause: 而是 introduces the entire replacement clause 朋友送给我的, so it belongs before that clause's subject.
他不是老师，而是医生。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他不是老师，而是医生。
He is not a teacher but a doctor.
他
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
不是
不是
This part occupies the 不是 position in the model pattern.
老师
A, 而是
This part occupies the A, 而是 position in the model pattern.
，
B (contrast)
This part occupies the B (contrast) position in the model pattern.
而是
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
医生
不是
This part occupies the 不是 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他不是老师，而是医生。
He is not a teacher but a doctor.
我迟到不是因为起晚了，而是因为地铁停了。
I was late not because I got up late, but because the subway stopped.
她不是不想去，而是没有时间。
It is not that she does not want to go; she has no time.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- To correct an identity: 他不是老师，而是医生。
- To replace one cause with another: 我迟到不是因为起晚了，而是因为地铁停了。
- To contrast two actions by one subject: 她不是不想去，而是没有时间。
Do not use it when
- For a simple contrast where the first statement remains true; use 但是 or 可是 instead.
- Do not stack 不是 and 而是 before the rejected alternative.
- Do not force two unrelated grammatical roles into the A and B slots; the correction needs a parallel contrast.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他不是而是老师，是医生。
他不是老师，而是医生。
Both markers are stacked before the rejected alternative
不是 must introduce the rejected identity 老师, and 而是 must introduce the replacement 医生.
这本书不是我买的，朋友而是送给我的。
这本书不是我买的，而是朋友送给我的。
而是 is placed after the subject of its replacement clause
而是 introduces the entire replacement clause 朋友送给我的, so it belongs before that clause's subject.
他不是而是老师，是医生。
Separate the markers around the alternatives: 他不是老师，而是医生。
这本书不是我买的，朋友而是送给我的。
Place 而是 before the replacement clause: 而是朋友送给我的。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 不是…而是….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 不是…而是…. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
不是...而是... (búshì...érshì) Questions
What is the difference between 不是...而是... and 虽然...但是...?
不是...而是... rejects A and replaces it with B. 虽然...但是... accepts the first fact and introduces a contrasting result, so both facts remain true.
Can 不是...而是... contrast reasons?
Yes. A common form is 不是因为 A，而是因为 B, which rejects one explanation and supplies another. Keep the two reason phrases parallel.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 不是…而是…
Supports the learner-facing account of where 不是…而是… appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 不是…而是…
Cross-checks the Subject + 不是 + A, 而是 + B (contrast) pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 4 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 4; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
不仅/不光…还/而且…不仅...而且... (bùjǐn...érqiě)
Compare correcting a claim with adding another true point.
Easy to confuse
不但不/不但没有…反而…不但不...反而... (bùdàn...fǎn'ér)
Separate direct replacement from an outcome opposite to expectation.
Compare
一方面…另一方面…一方面...另一方面...: Two Aspects
Distinguish replacement between claims from balancing two valid aspects.
Easy to confuse
不是…还/还是…不是...还...: More Is Needed
Distinguish replacing a claim from saying one action is insufficient.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Compare
Compare correcting a claim with adding another true point.