并非……而是……

bìngfēi... ér shì...

not... but... (并非……而是……)

并非 A，而是 B means “not A, but B.” It is formal and corrective.

Anchor example

问题并非缺少机会，而是缺少准备。

Wèntí bìngfēi quēshǎo jīhuì, ér shì quēshǎo zhǔnbèi.

The problem is not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of preparation.

HSK 6

1 structures

15 exercises

Lesson summary

Read the sample sentence and notice how 并非……而是…… works in the frame: 并非 A，而是 B.

Explanation

Use this pattern to correct an inaccurate judgement, label, or explanation. 并非 is more formal than 不是, and 而是 introduces the true explanation. Do not replace 而是 with 但是 when the goal is correction.

Structure Patterns

1 structures

Grammar pattern

并非 A，而是 B

formally denies one explanation and identifies the real one

问题并非缺少机会，而是缺少准备。

Wèntí bìngfēi quēshǎo jīhuì, ér shì quēshǎo zhǔnbèi.

The problem is not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of preparation.

Common Mistakes

Using 但是 for correction: 并非A，但是B。Use 而是 for “not A but B.”
Using it for simple contrast without correction.并非...而是... should correct a wrong view.

Usage Notes

Formal corrective pattern.
B gives the true explanation.
Close to 不是...而是..., but more written.

Practice

15 exercises

1 / 15

Fill in the blank:

问题____缺少机会，而是缺少准备。

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