「ではなく」- Not... but...
Explanation
「ではなく」 (dewa naku) is a Japanese grammatical structure used to contrast two things, meaning "not... but...". This expression is often used in sentences to negate the first item and affirm the second, clearly distinguishing between the two.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + ではなく + Noun | Noun | This structure is used to contrast two nouns, emphasizing the latter. |
Examples
彼 は学生 ではなく、先生 です。- Kare wa gakusei dewa naku, sensei desu.
- He is not a student, but a teacher.
私 は肉 ではなく、魚 を食 べたい。- Watashi wa niku dewa naku, sakana o tabetai.
- I don't want to eat meat, but fish.
彼 は働 いているではなく、遊 んでいます。- Kare wa hataraite iru dewa naku, asonde imasu.
- He is not working, but playing.
Deep Dive
The use of 「ではなく」 is not limited to contrasting two nouns; it can also be used in more complex sentence structures. In practical expressions, it can be combined with other grammar points to convey richer meanings.
Summary
「ではなく」 is a very practical grammar point used to contrast and emphasize the differences between two things. When negating the first item and affirming the second, it clearly conveys the speaker's intent. Through practical application and dialogue examples, one can flexibly master and use 「ではなく」.