Ways to say 'rather than'


> I like cats rather than dogs  
>  犬 **より** 猫が好き  
>  犬 **よりも** 猫が好き  
>  犬 **というより** 猫が好き

Which, if any, of the above are correct and what is the difference between
them?




>   1. 犬より猫が好き
>   2. 犬よりも猫が好き
>   3. 犬というより猫が好き
>   4. 犬ではなく猫が好き
>

These are all grammatical.

Sentences 1 and 2 sound almost the same to me, but the latter may be slightly
more emphatic. They mean "I like cats more than dogs." When the speaker likes
both dogs and cats, but has to tell which he likes more, these are the natural
choices.

Sentence 4 means "I like cats, but not dogs."

Sentence 3 is semantically closer to Sentence 4, but sounds much milder and
euphemistic. It sounds as if he were saying "I don't _particularly_ like dogs,
but I like cats."

So I think Sentence 3 is the one that is closest to "I like cats rather than
dogs."




>   1. 犬より猫が好き
>   2. 犬よりも猫が好き
>   3. 犬というより猫が好き
>   4. 犬ではなく猫が好き
>

These are all grammatical.

Sentences 1 and 2 sound almost the same to me, but the latter may be slightly
more emphatic. They mean "I like cats more than dogs." When the speaker likes
both dogs and cats, but has to tell which he likes more, these are the natural
choices.

Sentence 4 means "I like cats, but not dogs."

Sentence 3 is semantically closer to Sentence 4, but sounds much milder and
euphemistic. It sounds as if he were saying "I don't _particularly_ like dogs,
but I like cats."

So I think Sentence 3 is the one that is closest to "I like cats rather than
dogs."

