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    Chinese Grammar

    Using 不是 (bùshì) to express "is not"

    Negation

    Structure

    Subject + 不是 + Noun/Adjective

    Explanation

    不是 (bùshì) means "is not" and is the negation of the verb 是 (shì, to be). It is used to deny identity, classification, or truth, and can also add emphasis when placed before other verbs to mean "not really" or "not actually."

    Examples

    • 他不是我们班的学生。

      Tā bú shì wǒmen bān de xuéshēng.

      He is not a student in our class.

    • 这不是我点的菜,你拿错了。

      Zhè bú shì wǒ diǎn de cài, nǐ ná cuò le.

      This is not the dish I ordered; you brought the wrong one.

    • 今天不是周末,图书馆应该开门。

      Jīntiān bú shì zhōumò, túshūguǎn yīnggāi kāimén.

      Today is not the weekend, so the library should be open.

    Using 不是 (bùshì) to express "is not" | Chinese Grammar