(ér shì) - but rather, instead in Mandarin
érshìTraditional: 而是
#911 of 5,000 Core 1000
Translation
but rather, instead
Word origin
A two-character compound: 而 (er), a classical connective meaning 'and/but', plus 是 (shi) 'to be'. Together they mark a correction, 'but rather'.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 而 (er, classical conjunction) + 是 (shi, 'to be')
Stroke order
而
是
Examples
，。
I am not angry, but rather disappointed.
，。
It is not that he cannot, but that he does not want to.
，。
This is not the end, but rather the beginning.
，。
What I want is not money, but respect.
，。
He is not a doctor, but a teacher.
而是 (ér shì) means but rather or instead.
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 19.