Definition
不如说 is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning 'it would be better to say' or 'rather'. It is used to correct or refine a statement by offering a more accurate or suitable expression. It often pairs with 与其说... (a + 与其说 + b + 不如说 + a) in the pattern 'rather than saying B, it's more like A', but it can also be used independently to introduce a more precise phrasing.
phrase
ratherit would be better to saymore precisely
Examples
- ,不如说。Yǔqí shuō tā bù gāoxìng, bú tā shì zài sīkǎo.Rather than saying he's unhappy, it's more accurate to say he's thinking.
- ,不如说。Tā bìng bú shì shēngqì, bú shì shīwàng.He's not angry; rather, he's disappointed.
- ,不如说。Zhè běn shū de nèiróng, bú shì yì zhǒng zhéxué tàntǎo.The content of this book is more of a philosophical discussion.
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