英语短语 "not so much…as…" 是一个比较结构,核心含义是 "与其说…不如说…",用于否定前者的程度,强调后者更符合实际情况。它的本质是通过比较两个概念的"程度差异",突出后者才是重点。
"not so much A as B" = It is B more than it is A(是B的成分多于A)
即:与其说(是A),不如说(是B)
"not so much…as…" 可以连接名词、形容词、动词、介词短语,甚至完整的从句,只要前后成分平行(结构一致)。以下是常见场景:
It's not so much a mistake as a crime.
(与其说这是错误,不如说这是犯罪。)
The party was not so much a celebration as a gathering of old friends.
(这个派对与其说是庆祝活动,不如说是老友聚会。)
He was not so much angry as disappointed by the result.
(结果让他与其说是生气,不如说是失望。)
She speaks French not so much fluently as confidently.
(她的法语与其说流利,不如说自信。)
She didn't so much walk as run to catch the bus.
(她与其说是走,不如说是跑着去赶公交的。)
He doesn't so much work as play all day.
(他整天与其说是工作,不如说是玩。)
I didn't quit so much because I hated the job as because I wanted a change.
(我辞职与其说是因为讨厌这份工作,不如说是因为想改变。)
It's not so much that I'm lazy as that I'm too busy to clean the house.
(与其说我懒,不如说我太忙没时间打扫房子。)
1、 否定 vs 强调:
这个结构的核心是否定前者的"主要性",强调后者更准确。比如"not so much A as B"中,B才是说话者真正想表达的重点。
2、 与"not as…as…"的区别:
"not as…as…" 是简单的"不如/比不上"(比较程度高低),如:He's not as tall as his brother.(他不如哥哥高。)
"not so much…as…" 是"定性比较"(区分本质更接近哪一边),如:He's not so much tall as slim.(他与其说高,不如说苗条。)
3、 倒装结构(可选):
有时为了强调,可以将"not so much"提前,后面接倒装(助动词/情态动词提前):
Not so much did he dislike the food as he was full.
(与其说他讨厌这食物,不如说他已经吃饱了。)
"not so much…as…" 是一个"取舍型比较"结构,用于修正或细化对事物的描述,通过否定前者、强调后者,让表达更精准。记忆时可以简化为:
"不是(A),而是更接近(B)" → 与其说A,不如说B。通过例子巩固:
The movie is not so much scary as boring.(这部电影与其说吓人,不如说无聊。)
I bought the dress not so much for myself as for my sister.(我买这条裙子与其说给自己,不如说给我妹妹。)
He failed the exam not so much because he was stupid as because he didn't study.(他考试不及格与其说因为笨,不如说因为没复习。)
这样是不是更清楚啦? 😊