Structure
Verb + の + ではなく（て）(1)
［い］Adjective + の + ではなく（て）(1)
［な］Adjective + ではなく（て）(1)
Noun + ではなく（て）(1)
(1) じゃなく（て）
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Standard
About ではなくて・じゃなくて
When the auxiliary verb だ is seen in its negative conjugated form, it states that (A) is not correct, but (B) is. This form is ではなく, and may appear either with or without the conjunction particle て attached to the end.
ではなくて is commonly seen grouped with nouns, or other words that have been nominalized through the use of の or こと.
In ではなくて, the adverbial particle は is not strictly required. However, as this expression is comparing what (A) is 'not' to what (B) 'is', the contrast that は provides means that the phrase will sound far more natural with its inclusion.
Caution
て sometimes performs in a similar way to a 'comma' in Japanese, allowing structures to appear together that usually wouldn't. Due to this, if て is omitted from ではなくて, ではなく may not be linked directly to the next word, and a comma will be required. Regarding adjectives, this く form is known as the conjunctive form, and may only be linked directly with other 用言 (conjugatable words), altering or adding to their overall meaning.
- このラーメンは不味いのではなく、味が薄いだけです。It is not that this ramen tastes bad, but it is bland.
-
私は高いのではなく安いのを買った。I bought the cheap one, not the expensive one.
Synonyms
Examples
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彼は兄弟ではなくて従兄弟です。
He is not my sibling, but my cousin.
魚じゃなくて肉が食べたい。
I want to eat meat, not fish.
科学ではなくて化学です。
Not science, but chemistry.
火曜日ではなくて水曜日です。
It's not Tuesday, but Wednesday.
あの選手は天才ではなくて、努力家だ。
That player is not a genius, but a hard worker.
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Combining phrases with negative verbs
Japanese Stack Exchange
Describing negative ideas
Learn Japanese Daily
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Tobira
Page 48
みんなの日本語 II
Page 90 [CH 39]
A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 279 (Casual なくて)
A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
Page 211 (Formal なく)
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ではなくて・じゃなくて – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
zyoeru
I believe this grammar point is incorrectly linked to DBJG, p. 279. The grammar point covered there is 「〜なくて」 on its own which means “do not do ~ and ~” or 'is not ~ and ~".
The correct grammar point that should be linked is DIJG, p. 211. This grammar point is 「〜なく」 which means “not ~ and” or “not ~ but”.
Daru
Double checked both resources.
DBJG’s p.279 focuses on the ‘not x, so…’ while DIJB’s p.211 focuses on the Grammar Point that Bunpro talks about.
What I want to highlight here though is that both share the same basic meaning: ‘Not X, so…’. There’s also the fact that they mean the same thing, its just the Register that changes.
To better reflect that and add in your suggestion, I’ve updated the resources. Thank you!
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