Lessons 14, 23, 24: Contrast, whether and suggestion: 不是……而是……, 是否, 不妨

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   不是+A，而是+B

   The parts before and after 而 are two elements, one negative and one affirmative, used to compare and clarify a matter or two sides of a matter.

   • 新时代网校不是只学电脑，而是通过电脑，在多媒体的环境下，学习各种现代科学文化知识。

     Xīn Shídài wǎngxiào bú shì zhǐ xué diànnǎo, ér shì tōngguò diànnǎo, zài duōméitǐ de huánjìng xià, xuéxí gèzhǒng xiàndài kēxué wénhuà zhīshi.

     The New Era Online School isn't just about learning computers; rather, through computers, in a multimedia environment, you learn all kinds of modern scientific and cultural knowledge.

   • 这不是一件小事，而是一件与国家未来发展有关的大事。

     Zhè bú shì yí jiàn xiǎo shì, ér shì yí jiàn yǔ guójiā wèilái fāzhǎn yǒuguān de dàshì.

     This is not a trivial matter, but a major one that concerns the future development of the country.

   • 不是我不愿意去，而是没有时间。

     Bú shì wǒ bú yuànyì qù, érshì méiyǒu shíjiān.

     It's not that I don't want to go; it's that I don't have time.

   • 这不是他一个人的意见，而是大家讨论决定的。

     Zhè bú shì tā yí gè rén de yìjiàn, érshì dàjiā tǎolùn juédìng de.

     This is not his personal opinion, but something decided after discussion by everyone.

2. 2
   Ssubject+是否+V / cụm chủ vị

   Means 是不是 ("whether," "... or not"); used in writing.

   • 如果你开车时，遇到别人从你身边一擦而过，把你吓了一跳，你是否会大骂他一声呢？

     Rúguǒ nǐ kāichē shí, yùdào biérén cóng nǐ shēnbiān yì cā ér guò, bǎ nǐ xiàle yí tiào, nǐ shìfǒu huì dà mà tā yì shēng ne?

     If you're driving and someone else cuts right past you and startles you, would you yell and swear at them?

   • 今天下午的会她是否参加？

     Jīntiān xiàwǔ de huì tā shìfǒu cānjiā?

     Will she take part in this afternoon's meeting?

   • 我不知道她是否同意我们这样做。

     Wǒ bù zhīdào tā shìfǒu tóngyì wǒmen zhèyàng zuò.

     I don't know whether she agrees to our doing it this way.

   • 这种方法是否好，还需要看一段时间。

     Zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ shìfǒu hǎo, hái xūyào kàn yí duàn shíjiān.

     Whether this method is good or not still has to be seen after some time.

3. 3
   (Bạn) 不妨+Vverb

   Indicates that it is fine to do so (it doesn't matter even if it is done wrongly or not done well); used to make a suggestion to someone.

   • 这时，就要自觉化解自己的不良情绪，我们不妨以风趣、温和的态度解释当时的情况：“这小子，一定是老婆要生孩子。”然后一笑了之。

     Zhèshí, jiù yào zìjué huàjiě zìjǐ de bùliáng qíngxù, wǒmen bùfáng yǐ fēngqù, wēnhé de tàidù jiěshì dāngshí de qíngkuàng: “Zhè xiǎozi, yídìng shì lǎopo yào shēng háizi.” Ránhòu yí xiào liǎo zhī.

     At such a moment you should take the initiative to defuse your own bad mood; you might as well explain the situation in a humorous, gentle way: "That guy's wife must be about to give birth." And then laugh it off.

   • 你如果喜欢，不妨试试。

     Nǐ rúguǒ xǐhuan, bùfáng shìshi.

     If you like it, you might as well give it a try.

   • 你不妨问问，他到底是什么意思。

     Nǐ bùfáng wènwen, tā dàodǐ shì shénme yìsi.

     Why not ask him what exactly he means?

   • 你有什么心里话，不妨跟老师说说，我想她会帮助你的。

     Nǐ yǒu shénme xīnlǐhuà, bùfáng gēn lǎoshī shuōshuo, wǒ xiǎng tā huì bāngzhù nǐ de.

     If you have something on your mind, you might as well talk to the teacher; I think she will help you.