Not The Same

To say that two things are not the same, use the Mandarin Chinese bù yí yàng in this pattern:

Noun1 gen / hé noun2 bù yí yàng.

Things which do not have the same properties are indicated with bù yí yàng and a Stative Verb (SV). Use this pattern:

Noun1 gen / hé noun2 bù yí yàng SV.

The Stative Verb (SV) is a verb describing a state or condition which is quite static. Examples of Stative Verbs are tall; expensive; and important.

The Nouns can also be noun-phrases such as such as “those people,” or “the tables in this room.”

Gen / Hé

Either gen or hé can be used as the joiner between the two nouns being compared, which in this context are translated as “and”.

Examples of Bù Yí Yàng

These two pieces of clothing are not the same.
Zhè liang jiàn yifu bù yi yang.
(trad) ????????｡
(simp) ????????｡

My father and mother are not the same height.
Wo bàba hé wo mama bù yi yàng gao.
(trad) ???????????｡
(simp) ???????????｡

Doesn’t Mean

A similar expression to bù yí yang is bù deng yú, which translates as “doesn’t mean,” or “not equivalent.”

The pattern for bù deng yú is:

Noun SV bù deng yú SV.

Examples of Bù Deng Yú

Not being able to play the piano doesn’t mean you aren’t talented.
Bù huì dàn gangqín bù deng yú ni méi you cáihuá.
(trad) ?????????????｡
(simp) ?????????????｡

Just because he drives a fancy car doesn’t mean he is rich.
Ta kai míngpái che bù deng yú ta hen you qián.
(trad) ????????????｡
(simp) ????????????｡