Usages of bali
Si soda, bali maji ya uvuguvugu kabla ya chakula.
Not soda, but lukewarm water before the meal.
Pete yake si kubwa, bali ndogo inayokaa vizuri kidoleni.
Her ring is not big, but small and fits well on the finger.
Pilau si tamu pekee, bali pia hutoa harufu nzuri ukipika taratibu.
Pilau is not only delicious, but also gives a nice aroma when cooked slowly.
Meza kuu ipo ukingoni mwa ukumbi, si katikati, bali upande wa jukwaa.
The high table is at the edge of the hall, not in the middle, but on the stage side.
Sikupenda sketi nene, bali nilichagua ile nyembamba iliyo rahisi kutembea nayo.
I did not like the thick skirt, but I chose the narrow one that is easy to walk in.
Siyo tu mwalimu wetu mkali, bali pia ni mwenye huruma.
Not only is our teacher strict, but she/he is also compassionate.
Siyo tu leo tunarudia msamiati, bali pia tunatunga sentensi na mistari mipya.
Not only are we reviewing vocabulary today, but we are also creating new sentences and lines.
Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji wasibishane, bali wasikilize maoni ya kila mmoja kwa heshima.
The coach told the players not to argue, but to listen to each person’s opinion with respect.
Siyo tu wanafunzi wa darasa letu, bali pia walimu wanapenda kusoma vitabu vizuri.
Not only the students of our class, but also the teachers like to read good books.
Rahma alihesabu silabi za neno hilo tena na akasema herufi ya mwisho si konsonanti, bali irabu.
Rahma counted the syllables of that word again and said the last letter is not a consonant, but a vowel.
Si kwamba nina pesa nyingi, bali nataka kuweka amana kidogo kila mwezi hata kama riba ni ndogo.
It is not that I have a lot of money, but I want to put aside a small deposit every month even if the interest is low.
Si kwamba hakuna chakula nyumbani, bali mabaki ya jana yanatosha kwa chakula cha mchana.
It is not that there is no food at home, but yesterday’s leftovers are enough for lunch.
Si kwamba mhubiri huyo alikuwa mkali, bali sauti yake ilikuwa kubwa kidogo.
It is not that that preacher was harsh, but her voice was a little loud.
Si kwamba sarufi hii ni rahisi sana, bali tukifanya mazoezi kila siku tutaielewa.
It is not that this grammar is very easy, but if we practise every day we will understand it.
Si kwamba bosi wangu hapendi kazi yangu, bali anataka niandike kwa uwazi zaidi.
It is not that my boss dislikes my work, but she wants me to write more clearly.
Si kwamba sipendi biskuti, bali chokoleti hunifanya niwe na kiu sana.
It’s not that I do not like biscuits, but chocolate makes me very thirsty.
Si kwamba tikitimaji si tamu, bali papai na zabibu zimeiva vizuri zaidi wiki hii.
It’s not that watermelon is not sweet, but the papaya and grapes have ripened better this week.
Si kwamba keshia alikataa kutusaidia, bali troli yetu ilikuwa imejaa na tulihitaji muda wa kupanga vitu vizuri.
It’s not that the cashier refused to help us, but our trolley was full and we needed time to arrange the things properly.
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