并非
Traditional: 並非
bìng fēi HSK 6

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

他并非故意迟到。
Tā bìngfēi gùyì chídào.
He was not intentionally late.
这并非事实,而是谣言。
Zhè bìngfēi shìshí, ér shì yáoyán.
This is not the truth, but a rumor.
我并非反对你的计划。
Wǒ bìngfēi fǎnduì nǐ de jìhuà.
I am not opposing your plan.
他并非学生。
Tā bìngfēi xuésheng.
He is not a student.
这并非容易。
Zhè bìngfēi róngyì.
This is not easy.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: '并' (bìng) can mean 'simultaneously' or add emphasis, and '非' (fēi) means 'not' or 'wrong.' Think of it as 'emphatically not'—a strong way to say something isn't true. Associate it with formal corrections, like 'It is not that...'

📝 Usage Notes

This word is formal and commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese, especially in debates, explanations, or formal discussions to clarify or deny assumptions. It is less common in casual conversation, where simpler negations like '不是' are preferred.

📖 Grammar Points

并非 is typically placed before the element being negated, often followed by a noun, adjective, or clause. Example pattern: Subject + 并非 + phrase (e.g., 这并非我的错). It can also be used in conjunction with '而是' to present a contrast: 并非A,而是B (not A, but B).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese communication, using '并非' can soften a denial by making it sound more reasoned and less blunt, which aligns with cultural preferences for indirectness in formal settings. It shows politeness when correcting someone.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to '不是' (bùshì), which is a general negation, '并非' is more emphatic and formal, often used to refute specific claims. Unlike '并不' (bìngbù), which negates adjectives or verbs directly (e.g., 并不难), '并非' negates entire clauses or nouns.

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