GRAMMAR DETAIL
～ではなく
Rejects the first item or judgment and then introduces the correct one.
Examples
今日は車ではなく、歩いて会社へ行く。
Today I am going to walk to work instead of driving.
Words used
集合場所は駅前ではなく、図書館の入口です。
The meeting place is not in front of the station but at the library entrance.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: The item or judgment being corrected takes
ではなく, followed by the correct information. - Basic usage:
集合場所は駅前ではなく、図書館の入口です。corrects the meeting place from the station front to the library entrance.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Correction rather than addition
駅前ではなく図書館rejects the station front and gives the library instead. Its scope differs from the inclusive駅前も図書館も.
- Conversational form and what follows
- In conversation, it can contract to
じゃなく. The alternative can be an action rather than just another noun, as in車ではなく、歩いて行く.
- In conversation, it can contract to