It's not so much... but rather...: 은/는다기보다는

A/V + 은/는다기보다는 and N + (이)라기보다는 are used to show that a thing or action is betrer described by the second A/V/N than the first. It roughly translates to "it's not so much/I wouldn't say X, but rather Y". 그냥 is often included in the second part of the structure:

친구랑 이야기를 하고 싶지 않다기보다는 그냥 정말 부끄러워요.

I wouldn't say that I don't want to talk with my friend -- it's just that I'm really shy.

소주를 마시지 않는다기보다는 그냥 가장 좋아하는 술이 아니에요.

It's not so much that I don't drink soju -- it's just that it's not my favourite kind of alcohol.

등산을 좋아한다기보다는 한국에 있을 때 그냥 등산을 해요. It's not so much that I like hiking, but when you're in Korea you just do it.

그 남자가 친구라기보다는 그냥 회사 동료예요. I wouldn't say that he is my friend -- he's just a colleague from work.

매운 음식을 잘 먹는다기보다는 한국친구들이랑 식다에 갈 때마다 그냥 먹어요. I wouldn't say that I eat spicy food well, but that it's just what I eat whenever I go to restaurants with my Korean friends.

김치를 좋아한다기보다는 식당에 갈 때마다 그냥 먹어요. I wouldn't say that I like kimchi, it's more that whenever I go to a restaurant I just eat it.

돼지고기를 먹지 않다기보다는 그냥 다 고기를 별로 좋아하지 않아요.

It's not that I don't eat pork -- rather I'm just not really into meat.

• Share this:
• 
•