与…不同的是，…
unlike A, B …; what sets B apart from A is that …
Structure
与 A 不同的是 ， B ＋ 说明
What it means
'Unlike A, B…', 'what sets B apart from A is that…': opens a contrast by naming A first, then giving the point about B.
How it is built
与 + A + 不同的是，B + statement: 与北方不同的是，南方的城市冬天大多没有集中供暖 (Unlike the north, most southern cities have no central heating in winter).
When to use it
Written, for features and reports. In speech say 跟…不一样的是 or 不一样的是. 与A不同，B… without 的是 is also correct but less emphatic. For more or less of the same thing use 与…相比: 与去年相比，收入增加了.
Watch out
It always comes first and can't trail behind like English 'unlike': ✗南方冬天没有暖气，与北方不同的是.
Examples
与上一代人不同的是，不少年轻盲人不再只靠按摩为生。
Unlike the generation before them, many young blind people no longer live by massage alone.
与北方不同的是，南方的城市冬天大多没有集中供暖。
Unlike the north, most cities in the south have no central heating in winter.
与盲人不同的是，聋人的困难往往不容易被人看见。
Unlike blind people, deaf people face difficulties that others often fail to see.
Learn this in Lesson 164 · HSK 7–9: 看不见的世界 (A world without sight)
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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