A + 和 + B + 不一样
Reach for A 和 B 不一样 when you want to say two things are NOT the same — different in some way that matters. 'Chinese and Japanese are different.' 'My coffee and yours aren't the same.' This is the everyday negation of 一样 ('the same'), and it's the cleanest way in Chinese to mark a contrast between two specific items. You can stop there, or add what specifically is different.
Structure
A 和 B 不一样 (+ 在/的 [SPECIFIC DIFFERENCE])
A hé B bù yíyàng
How to Think About It
和 here is the comparison hinge, not 'and.' In English, 'A and B are different' looks like a list — in Chinese, 和 is doing the work of 'compared with.' You can mentally translate it as 'A — with B — not the same.' The negation lives on 一样, not on the verb, because 一样 IS the verb here. That's why 不 sits in front of 一样, not in front of 和.
Examples
中国菜和日本菜不一样。
Zhōngguó cài hé Rìběn cài bù yíyàng.
Chinese food and Japanese food are different.
我的想法和你的不一样。
Wǒ de xiǎngfǎ hé nǐ de bù yíyàng.
My thoughts are different from yours.
今天的天气和昨天不一样。
Jīntiān de tiānqì hé zuótiān bù yíyàng.
Today's weather is different from yesterday's.
Common Mistake
Learners put 不 in the wrong spot — either negating 和 or trying to use the English-style 'A is different from B' word order. In Chinese, both items sit on one side and 不一样 sits on the other; the negation belongs on 一样.
我不和他一样。
我和他不一样。
Don't Confuse With
A 和 B 一样
Positive version — 'A and B are the same.' Same structure, just without 不. Pick this when you want to assert similarity instead of difference.
A 跟 B 不一样
Identical meaning, 跟 instead of 和. 跟 is slightly more conversational/northern; 和 is neutral and works everywhere. Pick either.
A 比 B + Adjective
比 is for graded comparison ('A is taller than B'); 不一样 just says they differ. Use 比 when you can rank them; 不一样 when you only want to flag a difference.
Practice
我的手机 ___ 你的手机不一样。
Show answer
和
南方和北方的口音 ___ 一样。
Show answer
不
Put in order: [和 / 哥哥 / 我 / 不 / 一样]
Show answer
我和哥哥不一样。
Translate to Chinese: 'This year's plan is different from last year's.'
Show answer
今年的计划和去年的不一样。
Compare two things you know, saying they're different.
Show answer
Example answer: 美式咖啡和拿铁不一样。 (Americano and latte are different.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: