compared with; rather than
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesconjunction
rather than; compared with
formalUsed at the beginning of the clause describing the less desirable or to-be-rejected option. It is typically paired with conjunctions like 不如 (bù rú), 毋宁 (wú nìng), or 宁可 (nìng kě) in the following clause to introduce the preferred choice.
Yǔ与
qí其
yáng扬
tāng汤
zhǐ止
fèi沸
，
bù不
rú如
fǔ釜
dǐ底
chōu抽
xīn薪
。
Rather than trying to stop a pot from boiling by skimming off the foam, it's better to take out the firewood from underneath.
Yǔ与
qí其
zài在
jiā家
wú无
suǒ所
shì事
shì事
，
bù不
rú如
qù去
tú图
shū书
guǎn馆
kàn看
shū书
。
Rather than staying home with nothing to do, it's better to go to the library to read.
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Wǒ我
men们
yǔ与
qí其
làng浪
fèi费
shí时
jiān间
bào抱
yuàn怨
，
bù不
rú如
lì立
kè刻
kāi开
shǐ始
xíng行
dòng动
。
Rather than wasting time complaining, we'd better start taking action immediately.
Yǔ与
qí其
ràng让
tā他
shī失
wàng望
，
wǒ我
nìng宁
kě可
zì自
jǐ己
xīn辛
kǔ苦
yī一
diǎn点
。
I would rather bear a little hardship myself than let him down.