而是

Character by character

• 而ér6 strokesHSK 2and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
• 是shì9 strokesHSK 1indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that

Each character links to its stroke order page with a tracing and a writing exercise.

Words with the same characters

These words share at least one character with 而是. Reading them together is how the character starts to stick — the same characters in a different context.

• 是shìHSK 1

  to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)

• 而érHSK 4

  and; as well as; and so; but (not); yet (not); (indicates causal relation); (indicates change of state); (indicates contrast)

• 就是jiù shìHSK 3

  exactly; precisely; only; simply; just; (used correlatively with 也) even; even if

• 但是dàn shìHSK 2

  but; however

• 还是hái shiHSK 1

  still (as before); had better; unexpectedly; or

• 只是zhǐ shìHSK 3

  merely; only; just; nothing but; simply; but; however

• 而且ér qiěHSK 2

  (not only ...) but also; moreover; in addition; furthermore

• 可是kě shìHSK 2

  but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed

• 是否shì fǒuHSK 4

  whether (or not); if; is or isn't

• 总是zǒng shìHSK 3

  always

• 于是yú shìHSK 4

  thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence

• 正是zhèng shìHSK 2

  is precisely

• 而已ér yǐHSK 7

  that's all; nothing more

• 要是yào shiHSK 3

  (coll.) if

• 然而rán érHSK 4

  however; yet; but

• 算是suàn shìHSK 6

  considered to be; at last

• 或是huò shìHSK 5

  or; either one or the other

• 是不是shì bù shìHSK 1

  is or isn't; yes or no; whether or not

• 也就是说yě jiù shì shuōHSK 7

  in other words; that is to say; so; thus

• 反而fǎn érHSK 4

  on the contrary; instead

• 从而cóng érHSK 5

  thus; thereby

• 倒是dào shiHSK 5

  contrary to what one might expect; actually; contrariwise; why don't you

• 老是lǎo shiHSK 2

  always

• 是非shì fēiHSK 7

  right and wrong; quarrel