/ˈrɑ:ðə(r); US ˈræ- ||; ˈræðɚ/adv quite; to some extent 颇；相当程度上: It was a rather nice day. 那天的天气相当不错。 It was rather a nice day. 那天的天气相当不错。 It cost rather a lot of money. 那花去了很多的钱。 I was rather hoping that you'd be free on Friday. 我很希望你星期五有空。 ☞ Fairly, quite, rather and pretty can all mean ‘not very’. Fairly is the weakest. Rather and pretty (informal) are the strongest. Fairly and quite are mostly used with words that are positive The room was fairly tidy. Rather is used when you are criticizing sth This room's rather untidy. If you use rather with a positive word, it sounds as if you are surprised and pleased The new teacher is actually rather nice, though he doesn't look very friendly. fairly、quite、rather及pretty均表示“不太”或“适度”。fairly语气最弱。rather及pretty（非正式）的语气最强。fairly及quite大多与肯定的词连用：The room was fairly tidy.这房间颇为整洁。rather用于批评：This room's rather untidy.这房间相当凌乱。rather若与肯定的词连用，则含有令人惊喜的意思：The new teacher is actually rather nice, though he doesn't look very friendly.新老师其实人很好，虽然他样子不太友善。 or rather used as a way of correcting sth you have said, or making it more exact （用于更正或进一步说清楚刚才说的话）: She lives in London, or rather she lives in a suburb of London. 她住在伦敦，更确切地说，是伦敦近郊。 rather than instead of; in place of 取代；不是: I think I'll just have a sandwich rather than a full meal. 我想我只要一份三明治，不要全餐。 would rather... (than) would prefer to 宁愿: I'd rather go to the cinema than watch television. 与其看电视，我宁愿去看电影。