Word: 而 (ér) but (not); yet (not); (indicates contrast)

These are the example sentences using 而 in the sense but (not); yet (not); (indicates contrast). Every sentence using 而 is on the word's own page, whichever sense it uses.

Example sentences using 而 in this sense

17 sentences, showing page 1 of 1.

事故没减少而增加。

Shìgù méi jiǎnshǎo ér zēngjiā.

Instead of fewer accidents there are more.
人见利而不见害，鱼见食而不见钩

rén jiàn lì ér bújiàn hài, yú jiàn shí ér bújiàn gōu

people see the gain but not the harm; fish see the food but not the hook
他去钓鱼了，而没去打网球。

Tā qù diàoyú le, ér méi qù dǎ wǎngqiú.

He went fishing instead of playing tennis.
他更愿意工作而不是无所事事。

Tā gèng yuànyì gōngzuò ér bú shì wúsuǒshìshì.

He preferred working to doing nothing.
兵在精而不在多，将在谋而不在勇

bīngzàijīng'érbúzàiduō, jiàng zài móu ér bú zài yǒng

soldiers should be elite not numerous; generals should have strategy not just courage
兵无将而不动，蛇无头而不行

bīng wú jiāng ér bú dòng, shéwútóu'érbùxíng

troops without a general don't move; a snake without a head can't crawl
千人所指，无病而死

qiānrénsuǒzhǐ, wú bìng ér sǐ

when a thousand people point at you, you die even without illness
她父母很漂亮，而她却长得一般。

Tā fùmǔ hěn piàoliang, ér tā què zhǎng de yìbān.

Her parents are very beautiful, but she looks ordinary.
将在谋而不在勇，兵贵精而不贵多

jiàng zài móu ér bú zài yǒng, bīng guì jīng ér bú guì duō

a commander counts on strategy, not bravery; troops should be elite, not numerous
我决定去美国，而不是欧洲。

Wǒ juédìng qù Měiguó, ér bú shì Ōuzhōu.

Instead of going to Europe, I decided to go to America.
我是日本人，而你是美国人。

Wǒ shì Rìběn rén, ér nǐ shì Měiguórén.

I am Japanese, but you are an American.
我更愿意贫穷而不是富裕。

Wǒ gèng yuànyì pínqióng ér bú shì fùyù.

I prefer being poor to being rich.
我更愿意走路，而不是骑自行车。

Wǒ gèng yuànyì zǒulù, ér bú shì qí zìxíngchē.

I prefer walking to cycling.
我经常用信用卡，而不是钞票。

Wǒ jīngcháng yòng xìnyòngkǎ, ér bú shì chāopiào.

I usually use a credit card instead of cash.
批评的目的是建设而不是破坏。

Pīpíng de mùdì shì jiànshè ér bú shì pòhuài.

The purpose of criticism is to construct, not to destroy.
番茄是蔬菜而不是水果。

Fānqié shì shūcài ér bú shì shuǐguǒ.

The tomato is a vegetable, not a fruit.
重要的是我怎么想，而不是你！

Zhòngyào de shì wǒ zěnme xiǎng, ér bú shì nǐ!

What really matters more is what I think, not really what you think!