不就是

isn’t it just …?, It’s just…; it’s nothing more than…

→ 不
phrase Uncommon #5,920
isn’t it just …? A rhetorical question used to confirm or emphasize that something is exactly—or merely—what follows.
CH: 不就是一回事吗?
EN: Isn’t it all the same thing?

不就是你干的么。

Wasn't it you who did it?

不就是因为我没有房子嘛

Isn't it simply because I don't have a house?

— 后来的我们 (2018)

这不就是海鲜嘛

Isn't this just seafood?

— Deep Sea (2023)

不就是鲭鱼的骨头

Isn't it just a mackerel bone?

— 起风了 (2013)

我们到横滨,来接的不就是子英和你么?

When we got to Yokohama, weren’t you and Ziying the ones who came to pick us up?

不就是一回事吗

Isn't it the same thing?

— 风之谷 (1984)

你鞋子都没有,不就是咸鱼一条还学人家讲理想?

You don’t even have a pair of shoes. Aren’t you just a useless nobody, acting like you have dreams and ambitions?

— 少林足球 (2001)

不就是几只鸡蛋吗?

They’re just a few eggs, aren’t they?

— 趣味游戏 (1997)

你不就是在那出什么片子…

Weren’t you filming some movie over there…?

— 喜剧之王 (1999)

“有码头不就是让你们停船的吗?”

Isn’t the whole point of having a dock so you can moor your boats?

不就是一顶绿帽子吗

Isn’t it just a case of being cheated on?

— Lost in Thailand (2012)

这菜不就是前卫了一点吗

Isn’t this dish just a little avant-garde?

— Deep Sea (2023)

不就是女子摔跤吗

Isn't it just women's wrestling?

— 摔跤吧!爸爸 (2016)

那不就是晴女吗

Isn’t that just a sunny-day girl?

— 天气之子 (2019)

不就是丫环想做太太梦吗

Isn't it just a maid dreaming of becoming the lady of the house?

— 大红灯笼高高挂 (1991)

不就是嘛

Exactly.

— 利维坦 (2014)

这不就是一条咸鱼吗

Isn't this just a total slacker?

— 美人鱼 (2016)

那可不就是吗!

Exactly!

— 色‧戒 (2007)

那不就是灵魂和恐龙的交流了嘛

Wouldn’t that just be communication between a soul and a dinosaur?

— 触不可及 (2011)

不就是因为…不说了

Isn't it just because... Never mind.

— 后来的我们 (2018)

这不就是了,什么人都没有

See? There's no one here.

— 恶魔 (1955)

玛妮不就是妳吗?

Marnie is you, isn't she?

— 记忆中的玛妮 (2014)

phrase Rare #17,432
It’s just…; it’s nothing more than… Used to downplay something as simple or insignificant, sometimes rhetorically or defensively.
CH: 不就是跟你借点零花钱吗?
EN: I’m only asking to borrow a little pocket money from you, that’s all.

还不就是打架

Isn't it just fighting?

— 那些年,我们一起追的女孩 (2011)

不就是女人嘛

Isn't she just a woman?

— 后来的我们 (2018)

不就是和男人玩玩

It's just having fun with men, isn't it?

— 水瓶座 (2016)

不就是穿上塑料雨衣,睡了一个晚上

You just put on a plastic raincoat and slept in it for one night.

— 世界 (2004)

既然这样你早说不就是了

If that's the case, you should've just said so earlier.

— 魔女宅急便 (1989)

我不想不就是好玩嘛

I don’t want to—it’s just for fun, isn’t it?

— 城市英雄 (1993)

不就是跟你借点零花钱吗

I'm just borrowing a little spending money from you, aren't I?

— 空之境界 第五章 矛盾螺旋 (2008)