むしろ (mushiro) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Rather Than
Anna Baffa Volpe
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Anna Baffa Volpe
4 min reading time
The adverb むしろ (mushiro) means rather, instead, if anything, over.
It is used when comparing two things and expressing a preference for one of them.
I prefer A over B.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of むしろ, how it is formed and when むしろ is used through real example sentences.
How and when むしろ is used
むしろ is translated in various ways: rather, rather than, instead, and even more than.
妹の方がむしろしっかりしている。
My sister is rather reliable.
実際に、彼はむしろライバルになります。
In fact, he is rather a competitor.
むしろ is used when a comparison is made between two things, two situations and one is valued more than the other.
出かけるよりもむしろ家にいたい。
I would rather stay at home than go out.
Let's explain むしろ through a Japanese sentence:
二つを比べて、あれよりもこれを選ぶ。
Compare the two and choose this over that.
How むしろ is formed
むしろ is an adverb and has its own transcription in kanji: 寧ろ.
It is preceded by a sentence representing the first option that we discard and is followed by the second one that we choose or we prefer, we value.
この曲は、オリジナルバージョンより、むしろカバーバージョンのほうが好きだ。
I like the cover version of this song more than the original version.
よりむしろ preferring A over B
むしろ is commonly used preceded by the particle より or よりも that introduces the first element of comparison.
私はラーメンよりむしろうどん派だ。
I prefer udon over ramen.
派 indicates the group, the faction, the wing or the party
It is interesting the usage of this kanji: it expresses the thing we prefer categorically between two generals.
朝食はご飯派？パン派？
Do you prefer rice or bread for breakfast?
The term 派 presupposes a group membership and the concept expressed in the sentence is:
⇨ Do you belong to the category that likes rice or bread for breakfast?
昼間よりむしろ深夜のほうが仕事が捗る。
I get more work done late at night than during the day.
休日は遊びに行くよりむしろ家で寝ていたい。
I'd rather sleep at home than go out on holidays.
Synonym of むしろ is どちらかといえば if I had to choose one...
どちらかといえば、コーヒーのほうが好き。
If anything, I prefer coffee.
⇨ If I have to choose between the two, I prefer coffee
Examples of むしろ
飛行機はむしろ経済的だと言う人もいる。
Some say flying is rather economical.
私は歩くよりむしろタクシーに乗りたい。
I would rather take a taxi than walk.
The first element of comparison is followed by より, よりも or というよりも.
彼は学者というよりもむしろ詩人である。
He is a poet rather than a scholar.
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