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When giving directions, rule out this road first, then recommend the faster underground passage.

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3

〜じゃなくて、〜~janakute, ~

rejecting one option; offering another

Use 「〜じゃなくて」 after a noun or 「〜んじゃなくて」 after a dictionary-form verb to reject one option and give an alternative.

How it works

When giving directions, rule out this road first, then recommend the faster underground passage.
To get to the station, rule out walking first, then suggest taking the bus. Which option does the picture recommend?
“Not A, but B”: the first part rejects the original choice; the second gives an alternative.
When rejecting a noun, add 「じゃなくて」 directly: この道じゃなくて.
When rejecting an action, add 「んじゃなくて」 after the dictionary form: 歩くんじゃなくて.

The second part can correct a fact or give advice. Here, 「たほうがいい」 recommends taking the bus.

Keep 「歩く」 in the dictionary form. 「んじゃなくて」 already expresses the rejection, so do not change the verb to its negative form.

このkono道みちmichiじゃなくjanakuて、てte地下ちかchika道どうdouをo通ったとおったtoottaほうhouがga早いです。はやいですhayaidesu
It's faster to take the underground passage instead of this road.
歩くあるくarukuんnじゃなくjanakuて、てteバスばすbasuにni乗ったのったnottaほうhouがga便利べんりbenriですdesuよ。よyo

A
すみません、すみません駅えきまでどう行きますいきますか。か
Excuse me, how do I get to the station?
B
まっすぐ歩きますあるきますか。か
Do I walk straight?
A
いいえ、いいえ歩くあるくんじゃなくて、てバスばすに乗ったのったほうがいいですよ。よ
No, instead of walking, you should take the bus.
B
どのバスばすですか。か
Which bus?
A
あのバスばす乗り場のりばからから1 いち番ばんバスばすです。です
It's the number 1 bus from that bus stop.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Instead of this road, it's faster to go through the underpass.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
コーヒー紅茶をください。
Not coffee; please give me tea.

It's more convenient to take the bus instead of walking.