不是…而是…
not A but B: correcting an assumption
Structure
不是／并不是 A ， 而是 B
What it means
“Not A but B”: corrects an assumption and gives the real answer.
How it is built
不是／并不是 + A，而是 + B: 我不是不想去，而是没有时间 (It is not that I do not want to go; I have no time).
When to use it
并 before 不 or 没 adds “contrary to what you might think”: 并不是政府规定的，而是…. Good for explaining real causes. More formal than plain 不是 A，是 B.
Watch out
Don’t mix this up with 不是…就是…, which means “either A or B”. A and B should be the same kind of phrase.
Examples
城市等级并不是政府规定的，而是商业机构评出来的。
The tiers are not laid down by the government but rated by a commercial body.
我不是不想去，而是没有时间。
It is not that I do not want to go; I have no time.
Learn this in Lesson 6 · HSK 5: 一线城市 (City tiers)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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