wǒmen bùshì xiān chāixiāng, jiùshì xiān ānzhuāng jiājù.

We will either unpack the boxes first or install the furniture first.

Breakdown of wǒmen bùshì xiān chāixiāng, jiùshì xiān ānzhuāng jiājù.

• 我们wǒmen: we
• 先xiān: first
• 不是。。。就是búshì。。。jiùshì: either ... or

Questions & Answers about wǒmen bùshì xiān chāixiāng, jiùshì xiān ānzhuāng jiājù.

What grammar pattern is 不是 A，就是 B?

It is a very common pattern meaning either A, or B.

So in this sentence:

• 不是先拆箱
• 就是先安装家具

the speaker is saying there are two possible orders: either unpack first, or assemble/install the furniture first.

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Do 不是 and 就是 keep their usual literal meanings here?

Not really. In this pattern, they work together as a set expression.

• 不是 does not simply mean is not
• 就是 does not simply mean is exactly

Instead, 不是 A，就是 B should be understood as one grammar structure: either A or B.

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Why is 先 used twice?

Because each option has its own first.

• 先拆箱 = unpack first
• 先安装家具 = assemble/install the furniture first

Repeating 先 makes the two choices balanced and clear. This is very natural in Mandarin.

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Does this sentence sound negative because it starts with 不是?