Đây không phải lịch thu gom mà là điểm thu gom.

Đây often means here, but in sentences like this it commonly works like this is when pointing something out.

So:

• Đây không phải... = This is not...

You can think of đây as introducing the thing being identified. In English we often need this is, but Vietnamese can simply start with đây.

This is a very common contrast pattern in Vietnamese.

• không phải A mà là B = not A, but rather B

In your sentence:

• Đây không phải lịch thu gom mà là điểm thu gom.
• This is not a collection schedule, but a collection point.

Breakdown:

• không phải = is not / not
• mà là = but is / but rather is

This pattern is especially useful when correcting a misunderstanding.

Example:

• Đây không phải cà phê mà là trà.
• This is not coffee, but tea.

Because phải has more than one use in Vietnamese.

It can mean:

1. must / have to

   • Tôi phải đi. = I must go.

2. part of không phải, which means is not / not

   • Đây không phải... = This is not...

So in your sentence, phải is not being used by itself. It is part of the fixed expression không phải.

• lịch = schedule, calendar, timetable
• thu gom = collect, gather, collection

So lịch thu gom means collection schedule or pickup schedule, depending on context.

If the context is trash, recycling, or donations, it means the schedule for when collection happens.

• điểm = point, spot, location
• thu gom = collect, gathering/collection

So điểm thu gom means collection point, drop-off point, or collection site.

It refers to a place where things are collected, not a timetable.

Because both nouns are being fully stated:

• lịch thu gom = collection schedule
• điểm thu gom = collection point

Vietnamese often repeats the shared phrase instead of leaving it out. This keeps the contrast very clear.

In English, we might sometimes shorten it:

• This is not the collection schedule but the collection point.

Vietnamese could sometimes shorten in context too, but repeating thu gom sounds natural and clear here.

Basically, thu gom is a verb meaning to collect / gather up. But in Vietnamese, verbs often modify nouns directly without any extra words.

So:

• lịch thu gom = schedule for collecting
• điểm thu gom = point/place for collecting

This is very common in Vietnamese. A verb can act a bit like an English adjective or noun modifier.

Vietnamese often links nouns and modifiers directly without extra connecting words.

So instead of something like:

• schedule of collection
• point for collection

Vietnamese simply says:

• lịch thu gom
• điểm thu gom

This direct noun + modifier style is very common and natural in Vietnamese.

Yes, mà can sometimes have a contrastive meaning like but, but in this sentence the full structure is mà là, which is stronger and more precise.

• không phải A mà là B = not A but B

So here it is best to learn the whole pattern together, rather than translating mà alone.

Yes, it is natural and clear, especially in notices, labels, or explanations.

It sounds like someone is correcting a misunderstanding:

• This is not the collection schedule.
• It is the collection point.

That makes it very suitable for signs, public information, or instructions.

Sometimes yes, depending on context.

You could say:

• Không phải lịch thu gom mà là điểm thu gom.

This can still be understood, especially if you are pointing at something. But đây makes it more complete and explicit:

• Đây không phải... = This is not...

So with đây, the sentence sounds clearer and more self-contained.

A natural rhythm is to split it into two contrasted parts:

• Đây không phải lịch thu gom / mà là điểm thu gom.

The main contrast is between:

• lịch thu gom
• điểm thu gom

So when speaking, you would usually stress those contrasting words more than the repeated thu gom.

A learner should also be careful with these sounds:

• lịch and điểm have very different vowels
• phải has the hỏi tone
• mà has a low falling tone
• điểm has the hỏi tone

You do not need to over-stress every word; the important thing is making the contrast clear.

Yes, that is possible if the context is a posted calendar or schedule. But lịch is often best translated as schedule here, because calendar in English can sound a little too literal.

So the most natural translation is usually:

• This is not a collection schedule, but a collection point.

If the context is garbage, recycling, or donations, you might also say:

• This is not the pickup schedule, but the drop-off point.

That depends on the specific situation, not on the Vietnamese grammar.

The structure is:

• Đây = this
• không phải = is not
• lịch thu gom = collection schedule
• mà là = but rather is
• điểm thu gom = collection point

So the pattern is basically:

• This + is not + A + but is + B

That is why the sentence is relatively easy for English speakers once they learn the fixed contrast pattern không phải ... mà là ....