Translation guide
A guide to expressing the various meanings of 'rather' in Japanese, from preference and degree to correction and contrast.
家にいたほうがいい。
I'd rather stay home.
かなり寒い。
It's rather cold.
彼は教師というより、教授だ。
He's a teacher, or rather, a professor.
Expressing a preference for one thing over another, or a desire to do something instead of something else.
Used to say 'rather B than A'. むしろ emphasizes the preference. ほうがいい indicates 'better'.
電車よりむしろ歩いたほうがいい。
I'd rather walk than take the train.
Implies B is the lesser of two evils, 'rather B than A' when both options are undesirable.
彼とデートするより一人でいるほうがましだ。
I'd rather be alone than go on a date with him.
Means 'if I had to choose, B rather than A'. Softer than むしろ.
どちらかといえば、夏より冬が好きです。
I rather like winter than summer, if I had to choose.
Indicating that something is true to a moderate or significant degree, often with adjectives.
Means 'quite', 'fairly', 'rather'. Used with adjectives and verbs. Indicates a higher degree than expected.
今日はかなり暑い。
It's rather hot today.
彼はかなり上手に日本語を話す。
He speaks Japanese rather well.
Also means 'quite', 'rather', 'pretty'. Often used in casual speech. Can imply 'more than expected'.
Means 'quite', 'rather' (often with positive adjectives). Implies 'unexpectedly good'. Usually used in affirmative sentences.
Literally 'a little', but can be used as an understatement to mean 'rather' or 'quite' in a negative sense, or to soften a statement.
Used to correct or clarify what you just said, introducing a more accurate statement.
Means 'rather than saying...', 'or rather'. Used to rephrase or correct a previous statement.
彼は怒っているというより、悲しんでいるんだ。
He's sad rather than angry.
Can also be used for correction, meaning 'rather', 'instead'. Often used at the beginning of a sentence.
彼は医者ではない。むしろ、看護師だ。
He's not a doctor. Rather, he's a nurse.
Used to emphasize that the opposite is true, or to introduce a contrasting idea.
Means 'rather', 'on the contrary', 'instead'. Used to present an alternative or opposite viewpoint.
彼は怒るどころか、むしろ喜んでいた。
Far from being angry, he was rather pleased.
Means 'on the contrary', 'rather', 'instead'. Indicates an unexpected result opposite to what was expected.
All mean 'quite' or 'rather', but かなり is neutral and common. 結構 is slightly more casual and often implies 'more than expected'. なかなか is used with positive evaluations and implies 'unexpectedly good'. なかなか cannot be used with negative adjectives.
この本はなかなか面白い。
This book is rather interesting (unexpectedly so).
この本は結構面白い。
This book is pretty interesting.
English 'rather' has many uses that don't map to a single Japanese word. Translating 'rather' as むしろ in every case will sound unnatural. Use the patterns above based on the intended meaning.
この映画、結構面白かったよ。
This movie was rather interesting.
この料理はなかなか美味しい。
This dish is rather delicious.
それはちょっと難しい質問ですね。
That's a rather difficult question.
薬を飲んだら、かえって気分が悪くなった。
After taking the medicine, I felt rather worse.