rather/'rɑːðər $ 'ræðər/

ad. fairly or to some degree

ad. 相当；颇；在某种程度上：It's rather hot today. 今天相当热。

◇She was rather tired after her long walk. 走了很长路后，她很累。

rather than ... 而不是：[rather than sth] He was a businessman rather than an educator. 他是个商人，而不是教育家。

◇[rather than do sth] Rather than continue the argument, he walked away. 他走开了，不再继续争辩。

would rather ... (than ...) 宁愿；更喜欢：[would rather do sth] I'd rather go to the zoo. 我更喜欢去动物园。

◇[would rather do sth¹ than do sth²] He would rather take the train than drive. 他宁愿乘火车而不愿开车。

◇[would rather +无that虚拟过去式从句] I would rather you came now. 我宁愿你现在才来。

音组-ther/-ðər $ -ðər/

brother; either; mother; other; rather; father

常犯错误

✗ I would rather you leave tomorrow.

✓ I would rather you left tomorrow. 我倒希望你明天离开。

用法rather常修饰负面的形容词。如rather difficult。如果修饰正面的形容词，则有很强的强调意味。

辨析fairly; quite; rather; very