rather

1. PHRASE You use rather than when you are contrasting two things or situations. Rather than introduces the thing or situation that is not true or that you do not want. 而不是

The problem was psychological rather than physiological. 這是個(gè)心理而不是生理問(wèn)題。

2. CONJ Rather is also a conjunction. 而不是

She made students think for themselves, rather than telling them what to think. 她讓學(xué)生們自己思考，而不是告訴他們思考什麼。

3. ADV You use rather when you are correcting something that you have just said, especially when you are describing a particular situation after saying what it is not. (尤指脩正上文時(shí)) 更確切地說(shuō)[ADV with cl/group]

Twenty million years ago, Idaho was not the arid place it is now. Rather, it was warm and damp, populated by dense primordial forest. 2000萬(wàn)年前，愛(ài)達(dá)荷州不像現(xiàn)在這樣乾旱。確切地說(shuō)，它那時(shí)溫?zé)湷睖?，生長(zhǎng)著茂密的原始森林。

4. PHRASE If you say that you would rather do something or you'd rather do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say that you would rather not do something, you mean that you do not want to do it. 甯願(yuàn)/甯願(yuàn)不

If it's all the same to you, I'd rather work at home. 如果對(duì)你來(lái)說(shuō)都一樣，我甯願(yuàn)在家工作。

Kids would rather play than study. 孩子們甯願(yuàn)玩而不願(yuàn)學(xué)習(xí)。

5. ADV You use rather to indicate that something is true to a fairly great extent, especially when you are talking about something unpleasant or undesirable. (尤指談?wù)摿钊瞬豢斓氖聲r(shí)) 相儅地

I grew up in rather unusual circumstances. 我在相儅不尋常的環(huán)境中長(zhǎng)大。

I'm afraid it's a rather long story. 我恐怕這是個(gè)相儅長(zhǎng)的故事。

6. ADV You use rather before verbs that introduce your thoughts and feelings, in order to express your opinion politely, especially when a different opinion has been expressed. (尤指有禮貌地表達(dá)相反意見(jiàn)) 或多或少地[英國(guó)英語(yǔ)] [ADV before v]

I rather think he was telling the truth. 我或多或少地相信他在說(shuō)真話。