dili ... kondili ...

Not X but Y

Level 4

Use dili ... kondili ... when you need to correct a misconception. It functions like the English 'not this, but that.' It is more formal and precise than using a simple 'but' (apan).

How It Works

The expression dili ... kondili ... is the standard way to perform 'corrective negation' in formal Cebuano. While casual speech often uses pero or apan, these words only provide contrast; kondili explicitly replaces the first statement with the second.

Key characteristics include:

  • Formal Register: It is frequently found in literature, news, and religious texts. In daily conversation, you might hear the shortened variant kundi.
  • Corrective vs. Exceptive: While its primary use is 'not X but Y', it also functions as 'except' or 'but for' when following a negative word like wala (e.g., 'nothing else but...').
  • Parallelism: The elements being compared must match. If you say 'Not running (verb), but walking (verb),' both must be verbs.
  • Use of Hinunoa: It is very common to add the particle hinunoa (rather/on the contrary) or its less formal variant hinuon in the second clause to emphasize the correction.
  • Etymology: The word is a combination of kon (if) and dili (not), literally meaning 'if not.'

Examples (5)

  1. Dili kini usa ka dula, kondili usa ka seryosong butang.

    This is not a game, but rather a serious matter.

    Word by Word: Not this one a game, but-rather one a serious thing.

    Here, 'kondili' corrects the noun phrase 'usa ka dula' with 'usa ka seryosong butang'.

  2. Dili siya tapolan, kondili kugihan kaayo siya.

    He is not lazy; on the contrary, he is very hardworking.

    Word by Word: Not he lazy, but-rather hardworking very he.

    This example shows the pattern correcting an adjective (tapolan) with another adjective (kugihan).

  3. Dili malaglag ang motuo, kondili makabaton hinunoa sa kinabuhing dayon.

    Those who believe shall not perish, but rather have eternal life.

    Word by Word: Not perish the believe, but-rather have instead of life eternal.

    A classic formal usage where 'hinunoa' is added to strengthen the corrective contrast between 'perishing' and 'having life'.

  4. Dili si Maria ang niabot, kondili si Ana.

    It wasn't Maria who arrived, but Ana.

    Word by Word: Not focused-marker Maria the arrived, but-rather focused-marker Ana.

    This corrects the person (subject) involved in the action.

  5. Wala silay laing mahimo kondili ang paghulat.

    They have nothing else to do except to wait.

    Word by Word: None they-marker other can-do except the waiting.

    This demonstrates the secondary function of 'kondili' meaning 'except' or 'but for' when following a negative statement like 'wala'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'apan' for a direct correction.

    Different MeaningDili kini pula apan asul.
    Dili kini pula kondili asul.

    'Dili kini pula apan asul' is a good sentence: 'apan' is the everyday word for 'but'. 'Kondili' is the more formal, literary way to correct with 'but rather'.

  • Dropping the initial 'dili' before 'kondili'.

    Different MeaningPagtuon ka, kondili mapakyas ka.
    Dili lang ka magdula, kondili magtuon ka.

    'Pagtuon ka, kondili mapakyas ka' is a good sentence, but without 'dili' first, 'kondili' means 'otherwise' or 'or else': 'Study, or else you will fail.' For 'not X but Y', the 'dili' before it is needed.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

dili ... kondili ...Level 4Not X but Y

Learn This First

To use 'dili ... kondili ...', you must first understand how to negate a statement using 'dili'. It is also helpful to understand how Cebuano marks personal names and how it handles basic contrastive ideas like 'but'.

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