rather后加比较级，可以翻译成"稍微、有点、颇、相当"。
起到加重语气的作用。
如：
1.The weather was rather worse than I had expected. 天气要比我预料的还坏。
2.This hotel is rather more expensive than that. 这家旅馆的收费比那家贵得多。
rather的用法：
1.rather作副词，意为宁愿，宁可。
作此译解的rather常和would或had连用，构成固定短语。
would或had rather than译为宁愿而不愿。
特别注意此短语的否定构成及其后接的动词形式。
如：He would rather have the small one than the large one.他宁愿要一个小的，而不要大的。
2.would或had rather 后接从句时，从句中的谓语动词用虚拟语气。
如：I would rather you posted the letter right away.我倒希望你把这封信立即发出。
3.rather作副词译为更确切地时，常用在or rather这一短语中，表示想要纠正已经说过的话，或欲使已说过的话更确切。
4.rather作副词用时，还可翻译为相当，颇。
如：You''ve done rather well.你做得相当好。
rather 词组:rather good相当不错;would rather表示"宁愿";would rather do 宁愿做某事;would rather A than B宁愿A而不愿B;had rather 宁肯，宁愿;would rather not 宁可不，不愿;the rather because 正因为 所以才;but rather 而宁可说是, 反而;rather A than not 不是别的;sooner rather than later 尽早。