Yang Li: 大家好，我是杨莉，欢迎收听《你问我答》。今天我将通过大量的例句来回答Chen
Lian Lian 提出的一个问题，即如何使用rather 这个词。
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How to use the word "rather"? I am often confused by its various usages.
--Chen Lian Lian
Yang Li: The word rather is spelt r-a-t-h-e-r rather 这个词有多种意思，所以很难用一个汉语词来概括。 I can’t tell you the exact translation of the word because it all depends on the context in which you use this word. 不过我想通过大量的例句来说明这个词的多种意思。
Yang Li: 第一点，和动词连用, 意思是宁愿。
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I would rather not go. I would rather be with you for Christmas.
Yang Li: 以上两句话中的rather 都是宁愿怎么样的意思，我宁可不去；我宁愿和你一起过圣诞。
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I would rather not go. I would rather be with you for Christmas.
Yang Li: 第二个用法可能是最常见的，就是把 rather 和形容词连用，表示程度 to a certain or significant degree.
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A: I’m starting my Italian lessons next week. I need a good dictionary. What do you think of this one?
B: That’s a rather difficult one for a beginner. Let’s see… try this one. It’s easier.
Yang Li: 对于初学者来说这本字典有点儿太难了。Rather difficult, quite difficult. 下面是第二个例句。
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A: Did you have a good journey?
B: The train was rather too crowded for a comfortable journey I’m afraid. But I suppose that’s quite normal during rush hour, isn’t it?
Yang Li: 你旅途顺利吗？后者回答说火车有点太拥挤了，不太舒服 rather too crowded for a comfortable journey. Now I am going to test you. 想想下面这句话怎么说。我试了试你给我的新鞋，不过有点太紧。
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I tried the new pair of shoes you gave me but they are rather tight.
I tried the new pair of shoes you gave me but they are rather tight.
Yang Li: Number two 他讲话太快我听不明白。
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He spoke rather too quickly for me to understand.
He spoke rather too quickly for me to understand.
Yang Li: Did you get it? 太紧是 rather tight, 讲话太快就是 rather too quickly. Let’s move on.
Yang Li: 下面是第三个用法，意思是，说得更恰当点，more precisely or more exactly.
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A: He got home late last night, or rather early this morning.
Yang Li: 他昨天半夜，更准确地说，今天一清早才回到家。
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A: He got home late last night, or rather early this morning.
Yang Li: 再看一个例句。
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A: How is your Spanish friend, the one we met last Christmas?
B: You mean Jose? He's my sister's friend really, rather than mine.
Yang Li: 你那位西班牙朋友怎么样？对方解释说，啊，你是说 Jose? 其实，更准确地说，他是我姐姐的朋友。
Yang Li: 第四个意思也是今天我们要讲的主要用法，是用rather来表述一种倾向，与其...不如…更好， indicating one’s preference in a particular matter. 请听例句。
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A: Which team would you rather support? Man U or Chelsea?
B: Of course Manchester United.
Yang Li: 你支持哪个队？曼联还是切尔希？此句中的 rather 表示讲话人的倾向。另外我们还经常听到 rather than 这个固定用法，意思是，而不是…请听例句。
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A: You are a good chess player, aren’t you?
B: Well I like to play Chinese chess rather than international chess.
Yang Li: 你象棋下得不错吧？对方回答说，我喜欢下中国象棋，而不是国际象棋，rather than international chess.
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A: Would you like a Cappuccino or latté?
B: Mmm, I think I’d like to have a cold drink rather than coffee. It feels rather hot in here.
Yang Li: 喜欢喝那种咖啡？对方说他更想喝冷饮，rather than coffee 而不是咖啡。因为他觉得很热 it feels rather hot in here. 注意第二个 rather 表示程度，相当热，是副词 rather hot.
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A: Would you like to go to the pub with me for some jazz?
B:I'd rather stay at home this evening if you don’t mind. I’m rather tired.
Yang Li: 愿意跟我去酒吗? 对方说我更想呆在家里，I’d rather stay at home. 因为我挺累的rather tired很累，相当累。
Yang Li: 好，到此为止我介绍了 rather 这个词的四个主要用法。大家不妨在今后的阅读中多多注意 rather 这个词的用法。Hope you get to use the word rather, rather well in the future. Goodbye.
What is the meaning of the word rather? Well, it has various meanings
depending on the context in which you use this word.
这个词有多种意思，所以很难用一个汉语词来概括。 不过本节目将通过大量的例句来说明这
个词的多种意思和用法。
Rather is one of the most frequently used words in English but how do
people actually speak it?
In this programme you will get the opportunity to listen to lots of examples of
how British people speak the word rather in daily conversations.
You can also try out some sentence translation exercise while listening to this
programme and see if you can get it right.
Good luck and enjoy!
If you have a question about English, email our team at questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk. We may answer it on this programme.
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Glossary 词汇
various 各种各样的
depending on 取决于
context 上下文
frequently 经常地
translation exercise 翻译练习