Meaning of 而是
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- rather
How to use 而是
而是 almost always pairs with 不是 (bú shì) in the pattern 不是 A，而是 B, meaning "not A, but B." It corrects a wrong idea and gives the right one. Example: 他不是老师，而是医生。(Tā bú shì lǎoshī, ér shì yīshēng.) He is not a teacher, but a doctor.
而 (ér) links ideas and often turns them, and 是 (shì) means "is." Put together, 而是 says "rather, it is..." and points to the correct version after you reject the wrong one.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 而是 with 而且 (érqiě). 不是 A，而是 B means "not A but B," while 不但 A，而且 B means "not only A but also B." Another common error is using 但是 (dànshì) after 不是 when the point is a correction. In that pattern, 而是 is the natural choice.
而是 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
而 ér · and · 6 strokes
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是 shì · to be · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 而是.
| 还是 | háishi | still (as before); had better |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 但是 | dànshì | but; however |
| 而且 | érqiě | (not only ...) but also; moreover; in addition; furthermore |
| 可是 | kěshì | but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed |
| 正是 | zhèngshì | is precisely |
| 老是 | lǎoshì | always |
| 就是 | jiùshì | exactly; precisely; only; simply; just |
| 只是 | zhǐshì | merely; only; just; nothing but; simply |
| 要是 | yàoshi | (coll.) if |
| 总是 | zǒngshì | always |
| 有的是 | yǒudeshì | have plenty of; there's no lack of |
Questions about 而是
What does 而是 mean?
而是 (ér shì) means "rather".
How do you write 而是?
而是 is made of 2 characters: 而 (6 strokes), 是 (9 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 而是 an HSK word?
Yes. 而是 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 而是 and 但是?
但是 shows contrast. Both ideas can be true, as in "it is cheap, but it is good." 而是 replaces a wrong idea with the right one, so only B is true. It usually follows 不是 or another negative.
Can 而是 be used without 不是?
Yes, but there is still a negative before it, such as 没 (méi) or 并不 (bìng bù). Example: 我没去北京，而是去了上海。(Wǒ méi qù Běijīng, ér shì qù le Shànghǎi.) I did not go to Beijing. I went to Shanghai instead.