Chinese word

不如说

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù rú shuō

Meaning

  • conjunctionrather

Example

这不是抱怨，不如说是想帮忙。zhè bú shì bào yuàn bù rú shuō shì xiǎng bāng máng

This is not a complaint; rather, it is a wish to help.

Illustration for 不如说 (rather)

More examples

这并不是批评，不如说是提醒他注意细节。zhè bìng bú shì pī píng bù rú shuō shì tí xǐng tā zhù yì xì jié

This is not criticism; rather, it is a reminder for him to pay attention to details.

Core concept

A gentle turn that keeps the first wording in view while making the second wording the better fit.

Common phrases

  • 与其说是……，不如说是……yǔ qí shuō shì bù rú shuō shì

    rather than saying it is ___ say it is ___

  • 不如说并非……，而是……bù rú shuō bìng fēi ér shì

    say rather that it is not ___ but it is ___

Similar words

与其说yǔ qí shuō: Frames a second expression as preferable to the first way of putting something.

Definition in Chinese

在口语中用来替换或修正前述说法，强调后者比前者更恰当或更符合实际。zài kóu yǔ zhōng yòng lái tì huàn huò xiū zhèng qián shù shuō fǎ qiáng diào hòu zhě bǐ qián zhě gèng qià dàng huò gèng fú hé shí jì

Word origin

不如说 (bùrúshuō, "rather say") grew from 不如 (bùrú, "not be as good as"), a comparison expression, followed by 说 (shuō, "say") to frame a correction of what came before.

Usage tips

  • The expression helps refine an opinion without making the earlier statement sound completely false, which makes it useful in calm conversational explanations.

Other meanings

  • insteadadverb
  • more likeconjunction

Related words

  • 不如bù rúbe inferior toverb
  • 不如意bù rú yìunsatisfactoryadjective

Word lists with this word