rather/ˋræðɚ; ˈrɑːðə/adv 1 a little or fairly【英】稍许﹐有些﹔相当﹐颇: I think she was rather upset last night. 我觉得她昨晚有点紧张。It's a rather difficult problem. 这是个相当难的问题。I’m rather surprised to hear you say that. 你这么说我挺吃惊的。THESAURUS 同类词quite especially BrE 【尤英】: It's quite late. 很晚了。That's quite a difficult problem. 那个问题相当困难。fairly : The test was fairly easy. 测验挺简单的。It's a fairly long way. 这段路相当长。pretty spoken 【口】: Her French is pretty good. 她的法语相当不错。It's pretty tough work. 这工作相当棘手。2 rather than instead of something else 而不是: We decided to have the wedding in the summer rather than in the spring. 我们决定在夏天举行婚礼﹐而不是春天。3 would rather if you would rather do or have something, you would prefer to do or have it 宁可﹐宁愿: I hate sitting doing nothing – I’d rather be working. 我讨厌坐着无所事事—我宁可工作。4 or rather spoken used to give more correct or exact information about what you have said【口】更确切地说: Mr Dewey, or rather his secretary, asked me to come to the meeting. 杜威先生﹐更确切地说﹐是他的秘书﹐请我来参加会议的。