一,adv,“相当”,修饰形容词或副词,常含贬义.
如：1,It is rather a difficult question 2,She fell and hurt her legs rather badly.
二,与too连用,加重语气,构成副词短语 rather too.
如：You talked rather too much today.
三,放在形容词或副词比较级前,加重语气.
如：It is rather colder today than yesterday
四,rather than而不=instead of
如：I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.
五,would rather ...than...宁愿...也不...
六,prefer to do sth rather than do sth
七,would rather that从句,虚拟语气