Chinese–EnglishWith examples

而是

ér shì · er shi

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. rather
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

The stinky tofu stall

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)不(bù)吃(chī)臭豆腐(chòudòufu)？

    Why aren't you eating the stinky tofu?

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)不是(bùshì)不想(bùxiǎng)吃(chī)，而是(érshì)怕(pà)那个(nàge)味道(wèidao)。

    It's not that I don't want to. I'm afraid of the smell.

  3. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)不是(bùshì)怕(pà)味道(wèidao)，而是(érshì)怕(pà)我(wǒ)笑(xiào)你(nǐ)吧(ba)？

    You're not afraid of the smell. You're afraid I'll laugh at you, right?

  4. Dengdeng

    都不是(dōubùshì)，而是(érshì)怕(pà)自己(zìjǐ)喜欢上(xǐhuanshàng)它(tā)。

    Neither. I'm afraid I'll fall for it.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)你(nǐ)尝(cháng)一口(yīkǒu)吧(ba)，说不定(shuōbudìng)你(nǐ)不(bù)喜欢(xǐhuan)。

    Then have a bite. Maybe you won't like it.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

奥(ào)运(yùn)会(huì)最(zuì)重(zhòng)要(yào)的(de)不(bú)是(shì)获(huò)胜(shèng)，而(ér)是(shì)参(cān)与(yù)。

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by meursault · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)不(bú)是(shì)不(bù)想(xiǎng)去(qù)，而(ér)是(shì)实(shí)在(zài)没(méi)有(yǒu)时(shí)间(jiān)。

It's not that he doesn't want to go, but rather that he really has no time.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
而
ér

and; as well as

是
shì

to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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