rather

adv.稍微，有点；相当，颇；宁愿；相反地

int.当然啦，怎么不

adv.

1. （常用于表示轻微的批评、失望或惊讶）相当，在某种程度上
   used to mean ‘fairly’ or ‘to some degree’, often when you are expressing slight criticism, disappointment or surprise
   1. The instructions were rather complicated.
      这些说明相当复杂。
   2. She fell and hurt her leg rather badly.
      她跌倒了，腿伤得相当重。
   3. I didn't fail the exam; in fact I did rather well!
      我没有考不及格，事实上，我考得不错！
   4. It was a rather difficult question.
      这是个相当难的问题。
   5. It was rather a difficult question.
      这真是个难题。
   6. He looks rather like his father.
      他看上去很像他的父亲。
   7. The patient has responded to the treatment rather better than expected.
      病人对治疗的反应比预想的好得多。
   8. He was conscious that he was talking rather too much.
      他意识到他说得实在太多了。
2. （与动词连用以减弱语气）有点儿，稍微
   used with a verb to make a statement sound less strong
   1. I rather suspect we're making a mistake.
      我有点儿怀疑我们正在犯错误。
   2. We were rather hoping you'd be able to do it by Friday.
      我们希望你最好能在星期五之前做这件事。
3. （纠正所说的话或提供更确切的信息）更确切地讲，更准确地说
   used to correct sth you have said, or to give more accurate information
   1. She worked as a secretary, or rather, a personal assistant.
      她当了秘书；确切地讲，是私人助理。
   2. In the end he had to walk─or rather run─to the office.
      最后他不得不走着——应该说是跑着——去办公室。
4. （提出不同或相反的观点）相反，反而，而是
   used to introduce an idea that is different or opposite to the idea that you have stated previously
   1. The walls were not white, but rather a sort of dirty grey.
      墙面不是白的，而是灰不溜秋的。

exclamation

1. （表示同意某人的提议）
   used to agree with sb's suggestion
   1. ‘How about a trip to the beach?’ ‘Rather!’
      “去海边旅游怎么样？”“太好了！”

adv. 宁可，宁愿；相当int. 当然啦（回答问题时用） n. (Rather)人名；(英)拉瑟

1. I have rather a large influence over a good many people
   我对很多人都有相当大的影响力。
2. The problem was psychological rather than physiological
   问题是心理方面的而不是生理方面的。
3. Sedge is similar in appearance to grass but has a solid rather than a hollow stem
   莎草看上去和普通的草没什么两样，但其草茎是实芯的而不是空芯的。
4. The dark star in Nova Muscae 1991 is a black hole rather than a neutron star
   在1991年苍蝇座中的暗星其实是一个黑洞而非中子星。
5. When I'm going out in the evening I use the bike if I can rather than the car.
   我晚上要外出的时候，我宁愿骑自行车而不是开车。
6. Twenty million years ago, Idaho was not the arid place it is now. Rather, it was warm and damp, populated by dense primordial forest
   2,000万年前，爱达荷州并不像现在这样干旱。相反，那时的爱达荷州温暖潮湿，有大片的原始森林。
7. But there must be no talk of final victory; rather, the long, hard slog to a solution
   但是这还谈不上是最后的胜利；而是长期、艰难地寻找解决方法的过程。
8. The process is not a circle but rather a spiral
   这个过程不是一个圆周运动而是螺旋上升型的。
9. He explained what the Crux is, or rather, what it was.
   他解释了什么是南十字座，或者更确切地说，过去南十字座是什么。
10. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather work at home
    如果对你来说没什么差别，我宁愿在家中工作。
11. Which programme would you rather appear on?
    你更愿意在哪个节目中露面？
12. Kids would rather play than study
    孩子们宁愿玩也不愿学习。
13. I have no information one way or the other, but I would rather he do it than not do it
    我没有办法得到情报，但是我宁愿他去做。
14. I would rather Lionel took it on
    我宁愿莱昂内尔负责这件事。
15. Sorry. I'd rather not talk about it
    抱歉，我不愿意谈论这个。
16. Would you like that? Don't hesitate to say no if you'd rather not.
    你喜欢那个吗？如果你不喜欢就直说。
17. I grew up in rather unusual circumstances
    我在非同寻常的环境下长大。
18. It had made some rather bad mistakes which I thought should be corrected
    它犯了一些相当严重的错误，我觉得应该加以纠正。
19. He had had an excellent dinner at a rather good local hotel
    他已在当地一个相当不错的饭店里享用了一顿可口的晚餐。
20. The first speaker began to talk, very fast and rather loudly
    第一个发言者开始讲话了，语速很快，声音相当大。
21. We got along rather well
    我们相处得相当融洽。
22. I'm afraid it's rather a long story
    恐怕这说来话长。
23. The reality is rather more complex
    事实要更加复杂。
24. As you can see, he did rather better for himself than I did.
    你可以看出，他自己做的比我做的还要好。
25. The fruit is rather like a sweet chestnut
    这种果实颇似甜栗子。
26. Robbie was there with his family, keeping rather in the background.
    罗比和他的家人一起在那里，深居简出。
27. I rather think he was telling the truth
    我倒觉得他讲的是真话。
28. I rather like the decorative effect.
    我倒很喜欢装饰的效果。
29. 'Well, he did have a sort of family connection with it, didn't he.' — 'Oh yes. Rather.'
    “那么，他的确和它有些家族渊源，是不是？”——“噢，是的，的确如此。”
30. This place is rather cramped.
    这地方太局促了。