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rather than + noun/pronoun
rather than 连接两个并列的名词或代词，表示肯定前者、否定后者。
I'll have tea rather than coffee.
我要茶，而不是咖啡。
而不是；而非
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
而不是；而非
rather than
I'll have tea rather than coffee.
我要茶，而不是咖啡。
用于连接两个选项，表示选择前者而舍弃后者。
而不是
And not.
用以表示后一选项较不优先
Used to indicate that the following alternative is less preferred.
I prefer to walk to work rather than take the bus.
我宁愿走路去上班，而不是坐公交车。
She chose to tell the truth rather than hide the mistake.
她选择说出真相，而不是隐瞒错误。
We should focus on solutions rather than problems.
我们应该关注解决办法，而不是问题。
rather than 连接两个并列的名词或代词，表示肯定前者、否定后者。
I'll have tea rather than coffee.
我要茶，而不是咖啡。
rather than 后接动词原形时，常与前面的不定式或动词原形并列，表示选择前者而放弃后者。
He decided to walk rather than drive.
他决定走路，而不是开车。
rather than 后接 -ing 形式时，通常与前面相同的 -ing 结构并列，强调对比。
She prefers reading rather than watching TV.
她更喜欢阅读，而不是看电视。
Not this
He is taller rather than me.
Use this
He is taller than me.
比较级必须用than表示“比”，而rather than表示“而不是”，用于在两个选项中选择前者；这里把rather than误当成比较级的than，语义和语法都不对。
Not this
I would rather stay at home rather than go out.
Use this
I would rather stay at home than go out.
would rather...than...是固定结构，表示“宁愿……也不……”，本身已包含rather和than，再加rather than会造成重复。
Not this
She decided to call him rather than sending a text.
Use this
She decided to call him rather than send a text.
rather than连接的结构通常要保持平行，前面是decided to call，后面用不带to的不定式send与之对应；用sending会使结构不平衡。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
尽早，别拖到以后
Please send the report sooner rather than later.
请尽早发送报告，不要拖到以后。
而不是冒……的险
Rather than risk the storm, we stayed at home.
我们待在家里，而不是去冒暴风雨的危险。
选择甲而不是乙
We chose quality rather than quantity for the project.
这个项目我们选择重质量而不重数量。
宁做甲而不做乙
She prefers to write in a notebook rather than use a laptop.
她更喜欢在笔记本上写，而不是用笔记本电脑。
而不是反过来
Teachers should learn from students rather than the other way around.
老师应该向学生学习，而不是反过来。
而不是依赖
Rather than rely on luck, he prepared a backup plan.
他没有依赖运气，而是制定了一个备用计划。
宜早不宜迟；宁可早一些也不要晚
You should see a doctor sooner rather than later.
你应该尽快去看医生，不要拖延。
宁愿……也不愿……
I would rather read a book than watch TV.
我宁愿看书也不愿看电视。
而不是反过来；而非相反
Good teaching shapes good students rather than the other way around.
好的教学塑造好的学生，而不是反过来。
不要爱，不要金钱，不要名声，给我真理。
From Henry David Thoreau's Walden, reflecting his belief in simplicity and truth over worldly achievements.
出自亨利·戴维·梭罗的《瓦尔登湖》，体现了他主张简朴、追求真理而非世俗成就的思想。
我宁愿冒着被他人嘲笑的危险，也要忠于自己，而不愿弄虚作假，招致自己的厌恶。
From Frederick Douglass's autobiography, highlighting his refusal to compromise his integrity.
出自弗雷德里克·道格拉斯的自传，凸显了他拒绝放弃诚实正直原则的立场。
Use rather than naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：would rather 是‘宁愿’，than 表对比，所以 rather than=‘宁愿…而不是…’，记住 than 后是较不优先的选项。
语域：neutral 常见场景：日常交流、书面写作 rather than 通常属于中性表达，在日常口语和书面语中都较常见，用于正式写作时也很自然。语体选择更多取决于整个句子的正式程度，而非这个词本身。
用于连接两个平行结构，表示取舍；后接动词时常用原形或动名词。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.