Chinese Grammar
不是 ... 而是 ... (alternation between two views)
Used to contrast two interpretations of the same event.
Example Sentences
原因不是怕被炸。是因为死鲸鱼身上有细菌。
更要命的不是这画面，而是接下来发生的事。
Hear It in Context
This pattern appears in 1 episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
X 一旦 ... 就 ...'Once X, then Y.' Stronger and more formal than 一 ...X 听起来 / 看起来 ...，其实 ...Hedging frame. 'On the surface...' Sets up a revea...X 是 Y, 而是 Z (corrective)Corrective structure: 'X is not A, but rather B.' ...也就是说 ...'That is to say' — used to restate or clarify in a...对 X 来说Topicalizer: 'For X, ...' or 'From X's perspective...把 + Object + Verb + Result (disposal)Disposal construction with explicit result.被 + (Agent) + Verb (passive)Mandarin passive marker. The agent can be omitted ...