むしろRather, Instead, Over

Structure

むしろ + (Preferred Choice) Phrase

Details

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寧ろ

About むしろ

When a speaker is making a determination about something in Japanese, the adverb むしろ is often used to express a more accurate depiction of what has already been said. This is regularly translated as 'rather', or 'instead'.

むしろ will mostly appear at the beginning of new sentences, or the beginning of a second clause within a sentence, before information about (A) will be clarified.

As むしろ seeks to give a more accurate description about something, it will often be paired with grammar patterns such as より, to show where the comparison is being made.

Fun Fact

むしろ comes from the kanji 寧(むし)ろ, literally meaning 'preferable'. This is the same kanji that appears in the word 丁寧(ていねい), meaning 'polite' (sometimes also translated as 'careful'). The grammar structure むしろ itself may even be translated as 'preferably', simply expressing that careful consideration has been given to describing something accurately.

Examples

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彼(かれ)よりも寧(むし)ろあなたに来(き)てほしい。

I'd rather you come than him.

僕(ぼく)はコーヒーより寧(むし)ろ紅茶(こうちゃ)が飲(の)みたい。

I want to drink tea rather than the coffee.

明日(あした)より寧(むし)ろ今日(きょう)行(い)きたいんですが、駄目(だめ)ですか？

I want to go today rather than tomorrow. Is that OK?

韓国(かんこく)に行(い)くより寧(むし)ろ日本(にほん)に行(い)きたい。

Rather than going to Korea, I'd go to Japan.

事態(じたい)は寧(むし)ろ好転(こうてん)してきたように思(おも)える。

Rather, I think that the situation is changing for the better.

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Online
- Advanced Adverbs
  Imabi
- Using むしろ to show contrast
  Learn Japanese Daily

Offline
- [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
  Page 116
- A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
  Page 295
- A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns
  Page 609
- Quartet II
  Page 12
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むしろ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

mrnoone

English translation:
rather・instead・over

Structure:
むしろ + Preffered choice

View on Bunpro
eefara
I’m probably just being super dumb with this, but I’m having a bit of trouble with some of the example sentences:

友人にするなら、賑やかな人よりむしろ無口なくらいの人がいい。

The bolded part specifically. I can follow the sentence up to that part, but I’m not sure how なくらい is being formed. I’m guessing it’s some formation of ない, but none of the くらいs I’m familiar with fit the situation.

一緒に悪口を言うより、むしろ悪口を言われる方がいい。

I’m also curious what the 一緒に is doing here, given that the English translation given is:
“Instead of talking smack, you should be getting smack talked.”

And finally,

この問題は、力よりむしろ頭を使わないと解決しません。

I’m wondering what the double negative is doing here; I would have expected 使う to be affirmative or in dictionary form.

Sorry for all the non-むしろ related questions…
s1212z

eefara:

無口 なくらい の人がいい。

無口 is a ‘na’ adjective. If i had to guess, I think this is the noun くらい (位) for ranking or standing (in this case, ‘kind/grade’ of person)

I think you are right on the second one, that sounds weird! I remember thinking the same thing when I came across it.

eefara:

使わないと解決しません 。

I believe this is the ないと grammar point whi...
eefara

s1212z:

無口 is a ‘na’ adjective. If i had to guess, I think this is the noun くらい (位) for ranking or standing (in this case, ‘kind/grade’ of person)

Of course! That makes so much more sense, haha. I didn’t even think to check to see if 無口 could act as a な-adj.

s1212z:

I believe this is the ないと grammar point which is not in BP…yet. Looks like translation magic to avoid double negative bad English. Somethin...
Thehipeey
On the last example text of the grammer point, is the double より intended?

“俺はMMOよりよりむしろシングルプレイヤーのゲームの方が好きだ”

Apologies if this is the incorrect place to ask.