Rather than A
This is usually followed by a statement that is considered better or more accurate than A.
27
弟は昨日の試験に落ちた。頭が良くないと言うより全然勉強しなかった所為だ。
My little brother failed the exam yesterday. Rather than saying that he is not smart, it is because he did not study at all.
0
16
其れは部屋というよりは寧ろ広間だ。
It is a hall rather than a room.
0
21
ジョンは天才というより努力家だ。
John is not so much a genius as a hard worker.
0
26
彼の少女は美しいと言うよりは寧ろ可愛い。
That girl is more cute than beautiful.
2
17
此の本は為になるというよりも害になる。
This book will do more harm than good.
0
15
彼の女性は見栄っ張りというよりも寧ろ自尊心が強い。
That woman is proud rather than vain.
0
14
其の色はピンクと言うより紫だ。
The color is purple rather than pink.
0
15
私が疲れるのは、暑さと言うよりは寧ろ湿度の所為だ。
It is not so much the heat as the humidity that makes me tired.
0
8
社会情勢は前進と言うより後退為て居る。
Social conditions are going backward rather than forward.
0
4
彼女は、美人と言うより可愛い。
She is more pretty than beautiful.
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
病気と言うより調子が一寸可笑しい (rather than 'sick,' 'under the weather')
五月蝿いと言うより元気 (rather than 'loud,' 'energetic')
行きたくないと言うより都合が悪い (rather than saying I don't want to go, the circumstances aren't great...)
簡単と言うより複雑じゃない ('uncomplicated' rather than 'easy')
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
this is often used when wanting to be politic, or searching for a better/more descriptive word for what's being described.
I've seen this used at the start of sentences when the less accurate statement has already been said previously. This could be translated as something like "Or rather," "More accurately," "Actually," etc.
「私田舎に住んでたから…」
「田舎って…？」
「というより根無し草ね」
(Roughly:
"It's because I've lived in the countryside..."
"The countryside...?"
"Or, it's more like I'm a person with no roots." )
「私田舎に住んでたから…」
「田舎って…？」
「というより根無し草ね」
(Roughly:
"It's because I've lived in the countryside..."
"The countryside...?"
"Or, it's more like I'm a person with no roots." )
Questions/Discussion
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