[EP 837] New HSK 4 Voc 215-216 (Intermediate): 而、而是Part 2 || 新汉语水平3.0中级词汇4 || Join My Daily Live

[EP 837] New HSK 4 Voc 215-216 (Intermediate): 而、而是Part 2 || 新汉语水平3.0中级词汇4 || Join My Daily Live
New HSK 4-215: 而 [conj.]
[原hsk 4] but rather
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New HSK 4-216: 而是 [conj.]
[New Vocab] but rather
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The conjunction 而 (ér) is used to connect two sentences that are related to each other, and is also frequently used to emphasize contrast between two parts of the sentence. Used in this way, it can be translated as "but rather." 而 is often used in more formal or literary language, but is also common in everyday speech.
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Start with 是
Frequently you'll see the pattern in one of these two more specific forms involving the verb 是:
Structure
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不是……，(而)是……
是……，(而)不是……
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Strictly speaking, the 而 isn't required in either of these patterns, but it makes the contrast super clear.
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Examples
我们 是 来 办事 的 ，而 不 是 来 玩 的 。
Wǒmen shì lái bànshì de, ér bù shì lái wán de.
We're here to do work, not to have fun.
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你 这样 做 是 害 他 ，而 不 是 帮 他 。
Nǐ zhèyàng zuò shì hài tā, ér bù shì bāng tā.
By doing this you were hurting him, not helping him.
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重要 的 不是 你 的 外表 ，而是 你 的 内心 。
Zhòngyào de bù shì nǐ de wàibiǎo, ér shì nǐ de nèixīn.
What's important is not how you look on the outside, but rather what's on the inside.
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生活 中 不是 缺少 美 ，而是 缺少 发现 美 的 眼睛 。
Shēnghuó zhōng bù shì quēshǎo měi, ér shì quēshǎo fāxiàn měi de yǎnjīng.
It's not that life is lacking in beauty, but rather that we lack eyes that discover it.
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Generalized Pattern
而 here is like “但是” but sounds more literary and formal
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Structure
Sentence 1， + 而 + Sentence 2
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Examples
我 今天 去 你 家 找 你 了，而 你 不 在 家。
Wǒ jīntiān qù nǐ jiā zhǎo nǐ le, ér nǐ bù zài jiā.
I went to your home today looking for you, but you weren't there.
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孩子 发烧 很 严重，而 你 一点 都 不 关心。
Hái zǐ fāshāo hěn yánzhòng, ér nǐ yīdiǎn dōu bù guānxīn.
Your child has a very severe fever, and yet you don't seem at all concerned.
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她 在 公司 很 受 欢迎，而 我 并 不 喜欢 她。
Tā zài gōngsī hěn shòu huānyíng, ér wǒ bìng bù xǐhuan tā.
She is very popular in our company, but I don't like her at all.
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As you can see, 而 comes between the two to stress the contrast.
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Two important sentence patterns:
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1.
Structure
Subj. + 因(为) + Cause + 而 + Result
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Sometimes, 因为 can be shortened to just 因.
This is used more in sentences that are meant to be shorter and more succinct, more like a written language.
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Examples
我 因为 生病 而 请假。
Wǒ yīnwèi shēngbìng ér qǐngjià.
Because I got sick, I asked for time off.
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欧洲 的 经济 因为 债务 危机 而 陷入 衰退。
Ōuzhōu de jīngjì yīnwèi zhàiwù wéijī ér xiànrù shuāituì.
Because Europe is suffering a debt crisis, it is falling into decline.
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男 女朋友 之间 经常 因为 吃醋 而 吵架 。
Nán-nǚpéngyou zhījiān jīngcháng yīnwèi chīcù ér chǎojià.
Boyfriends and girlfriends frequently argue because of jealousy.
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首相 因为 受贿 丑闻 而 下 了 台。
Shǒuxiàng yīnwèi shòuhuì chǒuwén ér xià le tái.
Because the prime minister's bribery scandal, he fell from power.
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妈妈 因 小朋友 的 陪伴， 而 忘记 了 生活 的 不 愉快 。
Māma yīn xiǎopéngyou de péibàn, ér wàngjì le shēnghuó de bù yúkuài.
Because her children are with her, Mom can forget the unpleasantness of life.
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这 家 餐厅 因 火锅 而 出名。
Zhè jiā cāntīng yīn huǒguō ér chūmíng.
This restaurant is famous for its hotpot.
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生活 因 你 而 精彩。
Shēnghuó yīn nǐ ér jīngcǎi.
Life is wonderful because of you.
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2.
Subj. + 为(了) + Goal + 而 + Efforts Made
Sometimes, 为 can be replaced with 为了, which is less formal.
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Examples
很多中国父母为孩子而活。
Hěnduō Zhōngguó fùmǔ wèi háizi ér huó.
Many Chinese parents live for their children.
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我们为梦想而奋斗。
Wǒmen wèi mèngxiǎng ér fèndòu.
We fight for our dreams.
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你是为钱而工作吗？
Nǐ shì wèi qián ér gōngzuò ma?
Do you work for money?
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他为了能去日本而苦学日语。
Tā wèile néng qù Rìběn ér kǔxué Rìyǔ.
He studied Japanese hard in order to be able to go to Japan.