英语短语 "not so much…as" 是一个比较结构,核心逻辑是否定前者的准确性/重要性,强调后者更符合实际,通常译为:
它用于对比两个概念,指出后面的内容更能准确描述事物的本质——不是前者(程度或性质),而是后者(更核心的原因/特征)。
"not so much…as" 可以连接名词、形容词、动词、介词短语或从句,但需注意前后成分要平行(即结构一致)。以下是常见场景:
强调“不是前者的身份/事物,而是后者”。
He's not so much a teacher as a mentor.
(与其说他是老师,不如说他是导师。)
The gift is not so much expensive as meaningful.
(这份礼物与其说昂贵,不如说有意义。)
突出“不是前者的特征,而是后者的特征更贴切”。
The movie was not so much scary as boring.
(这部电影与其说吓人,不如说无聊。)
She spoke not so much softly as indistinctly.
(她说话与其说轻柔,不如说模糊不清。)
说明“动作不是前者,而是后者(更准确的描述)”。
He didn't so much walk as stagger down the street.
(他在街上与其说是走路,不如说是踉跄。)
She didn't so much explain as argue with me.
(她与其说是解释,不如说是和我争论。)
常用于说明“不是因为前者,而是因为后者”(从句常用"that"引导)。
I left early not so much because I was tired as (because) I was bored.
(我提前走与其说是因为累,不如说是因为无聊。)
The project failed not so much that we lacked funds as (that) we lacked experience.
(项目失败与其说因为缺钱,不如说因为缺乏经验。)
用于强调“核心原因/对象是后者”。
It's not so much the price as the quality that concerns me.
(我关心的与其说是价格,不如说是质量。)
1、 否定 vs 强调:
"not" 否定的是 "so much" 后的内容(即前者的“程度/准确性”),而强调"as"后的内容是更真实的情况。
2、 与"not as…as"的区别:
"not as…as" 是同级比较的否定,表示“不如…那样…”(侧重程度差异);
例:He's not as tall as his brother.(他不如哥哥高。)
"not so much…as" 是对比两个不同概念,强调“后者更准确”(侧重本质差异);
例:He's not so much tall as broad-shouldered.(他与其说高,不如说肩膀宽。)
有时会省略重复的成分(如从句中的"because/that"),或调整语序(将"not so much"提前):
Not so much did he forget as he didn't care.
(与其说他忘了,不如说他不在乎。)
I'm not so much angry (at you) as disappointed (in you).
(我对你与其说生气,不如说失望。)
"not so much…as" 是“反对比喻”的工具——用前者引出一个常见的误解,再用后者点出更本质的真相。掌握它的关键是记住:重点在"as"后面!
通过以上例子和分析,相信你已经能灵活运用这个短语啦~ 😊