Chinese Grammar
并不是...而是... (bìng bú shì...ér shì...)
A contrastive pattern meaning 'it is not [A] but rather [B].' Used to correct a common assumption and present the speaker's actual position. 并 intensifies the negation.
Example Sentences
并不是等前额叶发育好了，我们才能做出成熟的决定；而是我们努力去做成熟决定的过程，本身就在实质性地促进前额叶的发育。
并不是他不聪明，而是他还没有找到适合自己的学习方法。
Hear It in Context
This pattern appears in 1 episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
之所以...正是因为... (zhī suǒyǐ...zhèng shì yīnwèi...)A cause-and-effect structure meaning 'the reason [...无论是...还是...抑或是... (wúlùn shì...háishì...yìhòshì...)An expanded form of 'whether...or...' that lists t...看似...但如果... (kànsì...dàn rúguǒ...)A concessive pattern meaning 'it may seem like [A]...非...莫属 (fēi...mò shǔ)A pattern meaning 'it must be none other than...' ...