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> But a literal translation just becomes the nonsensical "he isn't like that, he is like that".

I guess a better translation is "He isn't that, he is like that." But I agree that English doesn't have a distinction between permanent states vs impermanent states in the "to be" verb.

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Probably 'He isn't always like that, he's just being like that".

> "ele não é assim, ele está assim"

"He is not like that, he is only acting like that" or "He is not like that, he is only currently like that."

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