不是 A，胜似 A
not A, yet closer than A; not A, yet better than A
Structure
不是 关系 ， 胜似 同一个关系
What it means
“Not A, yet closer than A”: the people are not really that relation, but their bond goes beyond it. Warm praise.
How it is built
不是 + relationship，胜似 + same relationship: 她们不是姐妹，胜似姐妹 (they are not sisters, yet closer than sisters). 胜似 (shèngsì) means “to surpass”.
When to use it
Written warmth for news features, speeches and tributes; in conversation say 比亲兄弟还亲. Famous variant: Mao Zedong’s 不似春光，胜似春光 (1929), “not spring, yet finer than spring”.
Watch out
Repeat the same noun: ✗ 不是父子，胜似朋友 ✓ 不是父子，胜似父子. Keep the comma between the halves, and never use it for a bad relationship.
Examples
师徒之间不是父子，胜似父子。
Master and apprentice are not father and son, yet they are closer than father and son.
老人生病住院，邻居们天天轮流来照顾，不是亲人，胜似亲人。
When the old man was in hospital the neighbours took turns to look after him every day: not family, yet better than family.
她们俩从小一起长大，不是姐妹，胜似姐妹。
The two of them grew up together: not sisters, yet closer than sisters.
Learn this in Lesson 235 · HSK 9+: 我在故宫修文物 (Restoring the Forbidden City’s treasures)
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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