rather

Word family adverbratherishrather

ra·ther /ˈrɑːðə $ ˈræðər/ S1 W1 predeterminer , adverb

1 QUITE/FAIRLYfairly or to some degree 相当；颇

I was rather surprised to see him with his ex-wife.

我看到他和前妻在一起，感到相当惊讶。

He was limping rather badly.

他腿跛得挺厉害。

My own position is rather different.

我自己的处境则很不一样。

Abigail’s always been rather a difficult child. British EnglishBrE

阿比盖尔一向是个挺难管的孩子。

Isn’t it rather late (=a little too late) to start changing all the arrangements?

现在改变所有安排是不是有点晚了？

Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British EnglishBrE

事实上我很喜欢这种新建筑风格。

It was a nice house, but rather too small for a family of four. British EnglishBrE

这房子很好，但对于四口之家来说太小了。

The task proved to be rather more difficult than I had expected. British EnglishBrE

这工作其实比我想象的要难很多。

2 would rather PREFERused to say that you would prefer to do or have something 宁愿，宁可

I’d rather have a quiet night in front of the TV.

我宁愿晚上安安静静地看看电视。

We could eat later if you would rather do that.

如果你愿意的话，我们可以晚点再吃。

‘I think you’d better ask her.’ ‘I’d rather not (=I do not want to).’

“我想你最好去问问她。”“我不想问。”

would rather ... than ...

I’d rather die than apologize to Helen.

我宁可死也不会向海伦道歉。

5I’d rather you didn’t go back (= I do not want you to go ) .

我不想让你回去。

n I’d rather you didn’t go out alone (=I do not want you to go).

Examples from the Corpus

would rather• I'd rather not talk about it, okay?• I would rather die than retreat.• We could eat later, if you would rather do that.• Some members would abandon the evangelical parts of the platform, while others would rather give up politics.• He would rather go down fighting, and try to salvage whatever he could from the wreckage of his dreams.• I had the money, and there was nothing I would rather have spent it for than coming to you.• But she loves to read and would rather listen to the radio than watch television.• I would rather stay home tonight.• Most people would rather stay home with their kids.• I would rather taste ash on my tongue than blood in my mouth.• Beach says her generation, however, would rather visit with friends, play sports and watch television.

3 rather than instead of 而不是

I think you’d call it a lecture rather than a talk.

我说啊，这是训斥，不是谈话。

Rather than go straight on to university why not get some work experience first?

与其直接上大学，为什么不先取得一点工作经验呢？

Bryson decided to quit rather than accept the new rules.

布赖森决定辞职而不接受新规定。

Examples from the Corpus

rather than• Bryson decided to quit rather than accept the new rules.• I prefer cooking with olive oil rather than butter.• Lovers, for example, are generally kept apart by wars or political circumstances rather than by simple misunderstandings.• And two who tip the scales to the angelic side are proposing to use bombing to plant forests rather than destroy them.• Rather than driving around all day looking for somewhere to park, why don't you take a bus into town?• Rather than fly directly to LA, why not stop in San Francisco first?• We merely suggest or advise rather than give orders.• There is no important theory-based reason why these countries rather than others were selected.• Mr O'Connor, however, stressed the need for more effective policing rather than police numbers.• It presumes that reality is dynamic rather than static, and therefore seeks relationships between ideas, to aim at synthesis.• It points us to the theistic hypothesis rather than to the necessity hypothesis.• Birds excrete uric acid rather than urea because it is an insoluble solid.• She uses lemon rather than vinegar in her salad dressings.

4 or rather CORRECTused before correcting something that you have said, or giving more specific information 更确切地说

We all went in Vic’s car, or rather his father’s.

我们都是坐维克的车走的，确切地说，是他父亲的车。

Examples from the Corpus

or rather• It is fear, or rather fears, that I want to speak about in this book.• But he'd had that last night - or rather, in the small hours of the morning.• It is related to the hedgehog, or rather it belongs to the same family of insectivores.• I was usually the active partner, or rather it was usually I who initiated a kiss or an embrace.• Now I have asked Deborah whether I may speak with her son or rather listen to him.• It was really my doing, or rather my drawings, that had brought us to this brink.• Here comes the post, or rather the copter.• But puberty, or rather the onset of menstruation, changed all that.

5 not ... but rather ... INSTEADused to say that one thing is not true but a different thing is true 不是…而是…

The problem is not their lack of funding, but rather their lack of planning.

问题不在于他们缺少资金，而在于缺乏计划。

Examples from the Corpus

not ... but rather ...• For others, syllable and character represent at most not a word but rather a morpheme, the smallest unit of meaning.• The AFL-CIO said the ads are not partisan but rather aim to press Congress to address the needs of working families.• However, the foreign exchange earnings on tourism did increase in 1989, not from IR£150m but rather by this figure.• The local medical men did not object, but rather commended them for their cheapness.• For insider dealing does not lack victims but rather, credible plaintiffs.• Sometimes, however, the diagnosis is not hidden but rather softened.• What mathematicians want from infinitesimals is not material existence but rather the right to use them in proofs.

6. rather you/him/her/them than me spoken used to say that you are glad that you are not going to be doing something that someone else will be doing 还好是你/他/她/他们而不是我〔用于表示不想做别人要去做的事〕

n7. → Rather!

n THESAURUS

rather/quite especially British EnglishBrE more than a little, but less than very. British people often use these words before adjectives in conversation. In many cases they do not intend to change the meaning – it is just something that people say

She seemed rather unhappy.

It’s rather a difficult question.

It’s getting quite late.

Malaria is rather common in this area.

fairly rather. Fairly is used in both British and American English

The test was fairly easy.

It’s a fairly long way to the next town.

pretty spoken rather. Pretty is more informal than the other words and is used in spoken English

Her French is pretty good.

We’re in a pretty strong position.

reasonably to a satisfactory level or degree

He plays reasonably well.

Let’s just say that I am reasonably confident we’ll win.

moderately formal more than a little, but not very

Her family was moderately wealthy.

The food was moderately good, but not as good as the food in the other restaurants.

Use a moderately high heat.

a moderately difficult climb

somewhat formal fairly or to a small degree. Somewhat is used especially when talking about the size or degree of something. It is often used in comparatives

The celebrations were somewhat larger than last year’s.

He looked somewhat irritated.

a somewhat surprising decision

n GRAMMAR: Patterns with rather

You say that you would rather do something:

I would rather play than study.

✗Don’t say: I would rather to play than study.

You say that you would rather be something:

I would rather be rich than poor.

✗Don’t say: I would rather to be rich than poor.

You say that you would rather someone did something:

I would rather you came in spring.

You say that you would rather someone did not do something, when you don’t want them to do it in the future:

I would rather you didn’t say that.

You say that you would rather someone had not done something, when criticizing them for something they have done in the past:

I would rather you hadn’t said that.

Examples from the Corpus

rather different• But that sounds rather grand, and the reality is rather different.• In modern semi-deserts the position may be rather different.• What was happening was rather different.• Had a different set of factors existed it is possible a rather different approach may have emerged.• But this was a rather different game.• There were people who loved and admired him and from them I pieced together a rather different picture.• Similar pressures weighed on Desiderius, Waddo and Bladast, but for rather different reasons.• In this context, inheritance plays a rather different role from that usually envisaged in discussions of the distribution of wealth.

Rather!

British EnglishBrE spoken old-fashionedAGREE used to agree with someone 当然！的确！

Origin rather

Old English hrathor “more quickly”

单词	rather
释义	rather Word family adverbratherishrather ra·ther /ˈrɑːðə $ ˈræðər/ ●●● S1 W1 predeterminer , adverb 1 QUITE/FAIRLYfairly or to some degree 相当；颇 I was rather surprised to see him with his ex-wife. 我看到他和前妻在一起，感到相当惊讶。 He was limping rather badly. 他腿跛得挺厉害。 My own position is rather different. 我自己的处境则很不一样。 Abigail’s always been rather a difficult child. British EnglishBrE 阿比盖尔一向是个挺难管的孩子。 Isn’t it rather late (=a little too late) to start changing all the arrangements? 现在改变所有安排是不是有点晚了？ Actually I rather like the new style of architecture. British EnglishBrE 事实上我很喜欢这种新建筑风格。 It was a nice house, but rather too small for a family of four. British EnglishBrE 这房子很好，但对于四口之家来说太小了。 The task proved to be rather more difficult than I had expected. British EnglishBrE 这工作其实比我想象的要难很多。 2 would rather PREFERused to say that you would prefer to do or have something 宁愿，宁可 I’d rather have a quiet night in front of the TV. 我宁愿晚上安安静静地看看电视。 We could eat later if you would rather do that. 如果你愿意的话，我们可以晚点再吃。 ‘I think you’d better ask her.’ ‘I’d rather not (=I do not want to).’ “我想你最好去问问她。”“我不想问。” would rather ... than ... I’d rather die than apologize to Helen. 我宁可死也不会向海伦道歉。 5I’d rather you didn’t go back (= I do not want you to go ) . 我不想让你回去。 n I’d rather you didn’t go out alone (=I do not want you to go). Examples from the Corpus would rather• I'd rather not talk about it, okay?• I would rather die than retreat.• We could eat later, if you would rather do that.• Some members would abandon the evangelical parts of the platform, while others would rather give up politics.• He would rather go down fighting, and try to salvage whatever he could from the wreckage of his dreams.• I had the money, and there was nothing I would rather have spent it for than coming to you.• But she loves to read and would rather listen to the radio than watch television.• I would rather stay home tonight.• Most people would rather stay home with their kids.• I would rather taste ash on my tongue than blood in my mouth.• Beach says her generation, however, would rather visit with friends, play sports and watch television. 3 rather than instead of 而不是 I think you’d call it a lecture rather than a talk. 我说啊，这是训斥，不是谈话。 Rather than go straight on to university why not get some work experience first? 与其直接上大学，为什么不先取得一点工作经验呢？ Bryson decided to quit rather than accept the new rules. 布赖森决定辞职而不接受新规定。 Examples from the Corpus rather than• Bryson decided to quit rather than accept the new rules.• I prefer cooking with olive oil rather than butter.• Lovers, for example, are generally kept apart by wars or political circumstances rather than by simple misunderstandings.• And two who tip the scales to the angelic side are proposing to use bombing to plant forests rather than destroy them.• Rather than driving around all day looking for somewhere to park, why don't you take a bus into town?• Rather than fly directly to LA, why not stop in San Francisco first?• We merely suggest or advise rather than give orders.• There is no important theory-based reason why these countries rather than others were selected.• Mr O'Connor, however, stressed the need for more effective policing rather than police numbers.• It presumes that reality is dynamic rather than static, and therefore seeks relationships between ideas, to aim at synthesis.• It points us to the theistic hypothesis rather than to the necessity hypothesis.• Birds excrete uric acid rather than urea because it is an insoluble solid.• She uses lemon rather than vinegar in her salad dressings. 4 or rather CORRECTused before correcting something that you have said, or giving more specific information 更确切地说 We all went in Vic’s car, or rather his father’s. 我们都是坐维克的车走的，确切地说，是他父亲的车。 Examples from the Corpus or rather• It is fear, or rather fears, that I want to speak about in this book.• But he'd had that last night - or rather, in the small hours of the morning.• It is related to the hedgehog, or rather it belongs to the same family of insectivores.• I was usually the active partner, or rather it was usually I who initiated a kiss or an embrace.• Now I have asked Deborah whether I may speak with her son or rather listen to him.• It was really my doing, or rather my drawings, that had brought us to this brink.• Here comes the post, or rather the copter.• But puberty, or rather the onset of menstruation, changed all that. 5 not ... but rather ... INSTEADused to say that one thing is not true but a different thing is true 不是…而是… The problem is not their lack of funding, but rather their lack of planning. 问题不在于他们缺少资金，而在于缺乏计划。 Examples from the Corpus not ... but rather ...• For others, syllable and character represent at most not a word but rather a morpheme, the smallest unit of meaning.• The AFL-CIO said the ads are not partisan but rather aim to press Congress to address the needs of working families.• However, the foreign exchange earnings on tourism did increase in 1989, not from IR£150m but rather by this figure.• The local medical men did not object, but rather commended them for their cheapness.• For insider dealing does not lack victims but rather, credible plaintiffs.• Sometimes, however, the diagnosis is not hidden but rather softened.• What mathematicians want from infinitesimals is not material existence but rather the right to use them in proofs. 6. rather you/him/her/them than me spoken used to say that you are glad that you are not going to be doing something that someone else will be doing 还好是你/他/她/他们而不是我〔用于表示不想做别人要去做的事〕 n7. → Rather! n THESAURUS rather/quite especially British EnglishBrE more than a little, but less than very. British people often use these words before adjectives in conversation. In many cases they do not intend to change the meaning – it is just something that people say She seemed rather unhappy. It’s rather a difficult question. It’s getting quite late. Malaria is rather common in this area. fairly rather. Fairly is used in both British and American English The test was fairly easy. It’s a fairly long way to the next town. pretty spoken rather. Pretty is more informal than the other words and is used in spoken English Her French is pretty good. We’re in a pretty strong position. reasonably to a satisfactory level or degree He plays reasonably well. Let’s just say that I am reasonably confident we’ll win. moderately formal more than a little, but not very Her family was moderately wealthy. The food was moderately good, but not as good as the food in the other restaurants. Use a moderately high heat. a moderately difficult climb somewhat formal fairly or to a small degree. Somewhat is used especially when talking about the size or degree of something. It is often used in comparatives The celebrations were somewhat larger than last year’s. He looked somewhat irritated. a somewhat surprising decision n GRAMMAR: Patterns with rather You say that you would rather do something: I would rather play than study. ✗Don’t say: I would rather to play than study. You say that you would rather be something: I would rather be rich than poor. ✗Don’t say: I would rather to be rich than poor. You say that you would rather someone did something: I would rather you came in spring. You say that you would rather someone did not do something, when you don’t want them to do it in the future: I would rather you didn’t say that. You say that you would rather someone had not done something, when criticizing them for something they have done in the past: I would rather you hadn’t said that. Examples from the Corpus rather different• But that sounds rather grand, and the reality is rather different.• In modern semi-deserts the position may be rather different.• What was happening was rather different.• Had a different set of factors existed it is possible a rather different approach may have emerged.• But this was a rather different game.• There were people who loved and admired him and from them I pieced together a rather different picture.• Similar pressures weighed on Desiderius, Waddo and Bladast, but for rather different reasons.• In this context, inheritance plays a rather different role from that usually envisaged in discussions of the distribution of wealth. Rather! British EnglishBrE spoken old-fashionedAGREE used to agree with someone 当然！的确！ Origin rather Old English hrathor “more quickly”
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