rather

一、用作副词

1.很，颇，在很大程度上

2.(用于比较级之前表强调)…得多，还要更

The weather was rather worse than I had expected. 
天气要比我预料的还坏。

This hotel is rather more expensive than that. 
这家旅馆的收费比那家贵得多。

3.(用于too之前表强调)太

He talks rather too much. 
他说得实在太多了。

I’ve been to rather too many parties recently. 
我最近参加的聚会实在太多了。

二、用于短语

1. or rather 更确切地说

In the end he had to walk—or rather run—to the office. 

最后他不得不走着—应该说是跑着—去办公室。

2. rather than 而不是，(不是…)而是
He ran rather than walked. 
他不是在走而是在跑。

3. would rather...(than)… 宁愿…(而不愿)
I’d rather walk than take a bus. 
我宁愿走路而不愿乘公共汽车。