Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Rather, on the contrary, instead, better yet.
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that between two things, the latter is more true, appropriate, or desirable, often contrary to expectations.
📋 Grammar Structure
Sentence A + より / というより + むしろ + Sentence B
Noun / Adj-i + むしろ
Noun / Adj-na + むしろ
Sentence (negative form) + むしろ
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Common in academic writing or speeches to clarify a specific point or preference.
Informal Situations
Used when choosing between options (e.g., ‘I’d rather eat at home’).
Written Language
Used in essays to provide nuanced comparisons.
Spoken Language
Frequently used to correct oneself or clarify feelings.
💡 Common Applications
Comparing two options
Used to emphasize that the second option (田舎) is more preferable than the first (都会). alcohol.
Example: 都会よりむしろ田舎が好きだ。
Correcting a description
Used with ‘to iu yori’ to state that a different description is more accurate.
Example: 親友というよりむしろ兄弟だ。
Unexpected results
Showing that an action led to an opposite or unexpected outcome.
Example: 薬でむしろ悪くなった。
Frequency
High in both formal debate and daily conversations involving preferences.
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
都会より、むしろ田舎の方が好きだ。
Furigana: と会かいより、むしろいなかの方ほうが好すきだ。
Romaji: Tokai yori, mushiro inaka no hou ga suki da.
English: I like the countryside rather than the city.
Example #2
彼は親友というより、むしろ兄弟のような存在だ。
Furigana: かれはしんゆうというより、むしろきょうだいのようなそんざいだ。
Romaji: Kare wa shinyuu to iu yori, mushiro kyoudai no you na sonzai da.
English: He is more like a brother than a best friend.
Example #3
失敗は、むしろ成功への近道だ。
Furigana: しっぱいは、むしろせいこうへのちかみちだ。
Romaji: Shippai wa, mushiro seikou e no chikamichi da.
English: Instead of it being a failure, it’s a shortcut to success.
Example #4
雨が降って涼しくなった。むしろ過ごしやすい。
Furigana: あめがふってすずしくなった。むしろすごしやすい。
Romaji: Ame ga futte suzushiku natta. Mushiro sugoshiyasui.
English: It became cool after the rain. In fact, it’s quite pleasant now.
Example #5
薬を飲んでから、むしろ気分が悪くなった。
Furigana: くすりをのんでから、むしろきぶんがわるくなった。
Romaji: Kusuri o nonde kara, mushiro kibun ga waruku natta.
English: I felt worse rather than better after taking the medicine.
Example #6
一人でいるのは寂しくない。むしろ自由で楽しい。
Furigana: ひとりいでいるのはさびしくない。むしろじゆうでたのしい。
Romaji: Hitori de iru no wa sabishiku nai. Mushiro jiyuu de tanoshii.
English: Being alone isn’t lonely. On the contrary, it’s free and fun.
Example #7
謝る必要はないよ。むしろこちらが感謝しているんだ。
Furigana: あやまるひつようはないよ。むしろこちらがかんしゃしているんだ。
Romaji: Ayamaru hitsuyou wa nai yo. Mushiro kochira ga kansha shite iru n’da.
English: There’s no need to apologize. On the contrary, I should be the one thanking you.
Example #8
若返ったというより、むしろ別人のようだ。
Furigana: わかがえったというより、むしろべつじんのようだ。
Romaji: Wakagaetta to iu yori, mushiro betsujin no you da.
English: It’s not just that he looks younger; he looks like a different person altogether.
Example #9
安いものより、むしろ高くても質の良いものが欲しい。
Furigana: やすいものより、むしろたかくてもしつのよいものがほしい。
Romaji: Yasui mono yori, mushiro takakute mo shitsu no yoi mono ga hoshii.
English: I’d rather have something high-quality even if it’s expensive, than something cheap.
Example #10
批判されて自信をなくすどころか、むしろやる気が出た。
Furigana: ひはんされてじしんをなくすどころか、むしろやる気がでた。
Romaji: Hihan sarete jishin o nakusu dokoro ka, mushiro yaruki ga deta.
English: I didn’t lose confidence because of the criticism; instead, it motivated me.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Expressing the opposite of an assumption
Mushiro is often used to respond to a question by providing an opposite, more accurate state.
Example: A: 疲れた？ B: いや、むしろ元気だよ！
Standalone preference
When a new suggestion is better than the original plan.
Example: むしろその方がいい。 (That would actually be better.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ むしろ A より B (Mushiro A yori B)
✅ A よりむしろ B (A yori mushiro B)
Using ‘mushiro’ before the comparison point doesn’t sound natural. It should come before the preferred item.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. It can be used in both polite (desu/masu) and casual settings.
Social Situations: Useful for expressing strong opinions or preferences politely by providing a comparison.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese usage nationwide.
🔍 Subtle Differences
むしろ vs かえって (Kaette)
‘Mushiro’ focuses on choice and preference. ‘Kaette’ focuses on an unexpected, often negative, result of an action.
When to use: Use ‘mushiro’ for preference; use ‘kaette’ when an action backfires unexpectedly.
📝 Conjugation Notes
‘Mushiro’ is an adverb and does not conjugate. It is often paired with ‘yori’ (than) or ‘to iu yori’ (rather than saying…).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The accent is usually flat or starts high: mu-SHI-ro.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Mushiro’ as ‘More-shiro’. You are saying something is ‘more’ true or ‘more’ preferable than the other option.
Other Grammar
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.