How to Say "Instead Of" in Chinese

而不是

ér bù shì

The English phrase 'instead of' is expressed in Chinese as 而不是 (ér bù shì).

The phrase 而不是 can be used to express 'instead of' in a straightforward way in daily conversations.

How does it change in a sentence?

而不是 is used to contrast two things, typically following the thing that is actually the case and preceding the thing that is not.

ér bù shì

While 而不是 is used for contrasting ideas, if you want to say 'instead of' in the sense of 'in place of a person', you would often use 代替 (dài tì) instead.
While 而不是 marks a contrast, Chinese speakers often use the phrase 与其…不如 to express a preference for one option 'instead of' another. This structure suggests that the second choice is logically superior.
The character 是 (shì) means 'to be', so 而不是 literally translates to 'but is not', creating a very strong, forceful contrast in speech.

我的兄弟被捕了而不是他。
Instead of him, my brother was arrested.
This sentence shows how to use 而不是 to indicate who was arrested.
Tatoeba #4844659 by pig8322, translation #4838380 by TrioLinguist
汤姆想待在家休息而不是和他的孩子们出去远足。
Tom wanted to stay home and relax instead of hiking with his children.
This sentence illustrates using 而不是 to contrast staying home with hiking.
Tatoeba #2033411 by sadhen, translation #1092491 by CK
尼采认为，哲学家应该少一点自命不凡，多关注人的价值问题，而不是抽象的体系。
Nietzsche believes philosophers should stop riding their high horse and focus more on people's differences in values, instead of abstract systems.
This sentence demonstrates the use of 而不是 to contrast focusing on values with focusing on abstract systems.
Tatoeba #3130825 by sadhen, translation #11282700 by Aphima
你可以用牛奶替代水。
You can use milk instead of water.
我们不如去看电影，而不是去购物。
We should go watch a movie instead of going shopping.
我想要一杯茶，而不是咖啡。
I want a cup of tea, not coffee.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are discussing whether to order food or cook.

晓雯 Xiaowen

我们应该点外卖，而不是自己做饭。
Wǒmen yīnggāi diǎn wàimài, ér bùshì zìjǐ zuòfàn.
We should order takeout, instead of cooking ourselves.
志强 Zhiqiang

但我认为在家做饭更健康。
Dàn wǒ rènwéi zàijiā zuòfàn gèng jiànkāng.
But I think cooking at home is healthier.
晓雯 Xiaowen

可是志强，今天我们太累了。
Kěshì Zhìqiáng, jīntiān wǒmen tài lèi le.
But Zhiqiang, we are too tired today.
志强 Zhiqiang

好吧，那我们就点外卖吧。
Hǎo ba, nà wǒmen jiù diǎn wàimài ba.
Alright, then let's just order takeout.

Sources

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