Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 11/24

ではなくてNot A but B, Conjunctive

なくて = casual・colloquial, なく = formal・written

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）

Details

  • Register

    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(ようげん) (conjugatable words), altering or adding to their overall meaning.

  • このラーメンは不味(まず)いのではなく、味(あじ)が薄(うす)いだけです。
    It is not that this ramen tastes bad, but it is bland.
  • 私(わたし)は高(たか)いのではなく安(やす)いのを買(か)った。
    I bought the cheap one, not the expensive one.

Examples

--:--

    彼(かれ)は兄弟(きょうだい)ではなくて従兄弟(いとこ)です。

    He is not my sibling, but my cousin.

    魚(さかな)じゃなくて肉(にく)が食(た)べたい。

    I want to eat meat, not fish.

    科学(かがく)ではなくて化学(かがく)です。

    Not science, but chemistry.

    火曜日(かようび)ではなくて水曜日(すいようび)です。

    It's not Tuesday, but Wednesday.

    あの選手(せんしゅ)は天才(てんさい)ではなくて、努力家(どりょくか)だ。

    That player is not a genius, but a hard worker.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

    • Offline

        • 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)

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      ではなくて・じゃなくて – Grammar Discussion

      Join the Discussion