并列复句 · HSK 4 (new at this level)
HSK 4 Pattern: 不是…而是…
Negates one interpretation and asserts the correct one. Used to correct a misunderstanding or clarify the real situation.
不是 + wrong assumption, 而是 + correct reality
Examples / 例句
他不是不想去，而是没有时间。
Tā búshì bù xiǎng qù, érshì méiyǒu shíjiān.
It's not that he doesn't want to go, but that he has no time.
Correcting a misunderstanding about his reluctance
成功不是靠运气，而是靠努力。
Chénggōng búshì kào yùnqi, érshì kào nǔlì.
Success isn't about luck, but about effort.
Correcting a common belief
我不是生气，而是有点儿失望。
Wǒ búshì shēngqì, érshì yǒudiǎnr shīwàng.
I'm not angry, just a bit disappointed.
Clarifying the real emotion
这次比赛重要的不是输赢，而是参加的过程。
Zhè cì bǐsài zhòngyào de búshì shū yíng, érshì cānjiā de guòchéng.
What matters in this competition isn't winning or losing, but the experience of taking part.
Reframes priorities — common HSK 4 essay/reading-passage thesis
学好一门外语，难的不是发音，而是坚持。
Xué hǎo yì mén wàiyǔ, nán de búshì fāyīn, érshì jiānchí.
When learning a foreign language, the hard part isn't pronunciation — it's persistence.
Corrects a common assumption — HSK 4 language-learning topic
Common Errors / 常见错误
✗ 不是他来了，而是她来了。
✓ 来的不是他，而是她。
The structure corrects what comes after 不是. Rephrase so the corrected element follows 不是 directly.
✗ 他不是聪明，而且努力。
✓ 他不是聪明，而是努力。/ 他不但聪明，而且努力。
不是 pairs with 而是 (correction). 不但 pairs with 而且 (addition). Don't mix them.
Easily confused: 不是…而是 corrects. 不但…而且 adds. Very different logic.
See comparison →
Fill in the Blank / 填空练习
Complete each sentence using this pattern. Type the missing word(s) and press Enter.
我不想去，___没有时间。
成功不是靠运气，靠努力。
他不聊明，而是不够努力。
Quick Quiz / 小测验
问题___出在方法上，___出在态度上。
Correcting where the problem lies → 不是…而是.
他___不会做，___不想做。
Correcting assumption (not 'can't' but 'won't') → 不是…而是.
学好中文___靠天分，___靠坚持。
Not talent, but persistence → 不是…而是.
HSK 4 Mock Test Questions Using 不是…而是… / 真题示例
2 real HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test this pattern:
From HSK 4 Mock Test 03 · Q58
58. 请将下列句子正确排序：A 语法是语言学习中很重要的一部分 B 却不是语言学习的全部 C 文化在语言学习中也很重要
A ABC ✓B ACBC BACD BCAE CABF CBA
From HSK 4 Mock Test 03 · Q74
74. 同情是最美好的情感之一，然而同情并不是高高在上的关心，它应该是对别人经历的情感的理解、尊重和支持。这段话认为，同情：
A 很无聊B 让人难受C 不是可怜 ✓D 是暂时的
不是…而是… FAQ
When is 不是…而是… tested in HSK 4?
不是…而是… (Not A, but rather B) appears in HSK 4 reading comprehension (Q66-85) when texts use complex sentences, in 阅读排序 (Q56-65) where this pattern's connectors signal sentence order, and in listening 段落 (Q26-45) where the speaker uses it to express negates one interpretation and asserts the correct one.
What's the most common mistake with 不是…而是…?
不是…而是 corrects. 不但…而且 adds. Very different logic.
Is 不是…而是… required at HSK 4 or higher?
HSK 4 (new at this level)