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不是 … ，就是 … (either … or …)
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Always one or the other
- You complain about the weather in your city in spring.
- here这里(modifier / structural particle)的spring (season)春天if not不是to be windy刮风，then就是to rain下雨。 — "Spring here is either windy or rainy."
if not不是 A，then就是 B = either A or B
- if not不是 A，then就是 B = it is always one of the two: if not A, then B.
- It often describes a habit or a frustrating situation.
he他at weekends周末if not不是sleeping睡觉，then就是playing打games游戏。
Complete: “At weekends he either sleeps or plays games.” 他周末不是睡觉，____打游戏。
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不是 A，就是 B.
Two possibilities, nothing else
- Guess: this这个(concept of) time时间he他if not不是at在the library图书馆，then就是at在the canteen食堂。 — "At this time he's either in the library or the canteen."
- Complaint: you你if not不是to arrive late迟到，then就是to leave early (before the…早退！ — "You're either late or leaving early!"
he他if not不是at在the library图书馆，then就是at在the canteen食堂。
Build: “He's either in the library or the canteen.”
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不是 A，就是 B.
Not "isn't … but is …"
- if not不是 A，but而是 B = not A but B (a correction): he他if not不是a teacher老师，but而是a doctor医生. Different meaning!
- if not不是 A，then就是 B = either A or B (two options, one of them true).
What does 他不是老师，而是医生 mean?
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而是 corrects: not A but B.
Versus or或者…or或者…
- or或者…or或者… offers choices: or或者you你to come来，or或者I / me我to go去.
- if not不是…then就是… describes a situation with only two outcomes, often habitual.
he他not不是a teacher老师，but而是a doctor医生。
不是…就是… often describes a habit or a frustrating pattern.
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True. 不是 A 就是 B (“if it's not A, it's B”) often describes an annoying pattern: 不是刮风，就是下雨 “If it isn't windy, it's raining.”
Recap
- if not不是 A，then就是 B = either A or B (one of the two).
- if not不是 A，but而是 B = not A but B (correction).
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Sentence patterns.
You complain about the weather in your city in spring. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.