<p>Instead can also be used in the "rather than" situation 
Like, rather than A, why don't we do B
與其做A, 我們不如做B</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-26T06:23:59.397Z
2018-11-26T06:23:59.397Z
John Arc
<p><strong>反而</strong> is mostly used when something is <em>contrary to expectations</em>.
An example: Suppose it is predicted that there would be no wind, but there is a lot of wind, and after a while it starts to blow even harder you can say:</p>

<pre><code>风不但没停，反而越刮越大了
    the wind not only hasn't stopped, but blowing harder and harder
</code></pre>

<p><strong>而且</strong> is used to give some extra information and is typically translated as "*and also; besides; and what's more; but also". </p>

<p>You can use "<strong>而不是</strong>". For example:</p>

<pre><code>我们需要的是能力强的职工，而不是吃干饭的
    What we need are people with great capabilities, instead of those who live off others. 
</code></pre>

<p>You can also use <strong>与其</strong>..., <strong>不如</strong>... which is translated as <em>rather than ... , you'd better ...</em>.
An example:
    与其少买，不如不买
        I'd rather not buy anything at all than buy just a few.</p>

<p>Often Chinese wouldn't use a conjunction at all. For example (these 2 examples come from Nciku)</p>

<pre><code>中国人不习惯用刀叉，更喜欢用筷子
    Chinese people prefer to use chopsticks instead of a knife and fork.    

我想上场，不想在余下的比赛中做替补。
    I want to play instead of spend the rest of the match on this bench.
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-29T15:26:51.363Z
So its sound better to use 而不是 and reverse the positions of x and y.  In english it doesn't matter where x and y appear as 'instead' can start a sentence or end with it. In chinese it has to balance with 而不是 in the 2nd clause.
jaffa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-29T08:11:48.503Z
2012-04-29T08:11:48.503Z
BertR
<p>For example, how would I say, 'instead of x, we should do y'?
I find it hard to balance the sentence correctly in chinese.</p>

<p>Do I need to use, 反而 or 而且? Or is there some better method?</p>

<grammar>
What is the pattern for 'instead of x, y...'
# What is the pattern for 'instead of x, y...'

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-28)

For example, how would I say, 'instead of x, we should do y'?
I find it hard to balance the sentence correctly in chinese.

Do I need to use, 反而 or 而且? Or is there some better method?

**Tags:** grammar


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-29. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

**反而** is mostly used when something is *contrary to expectations*.
An example: Suppose it is predicted that there would be no wind, but there is a lot of wind, and after a while it starts to blow even harder you can say:

```
风不但没停，反而越刮越大了
    the wind not only hasn't stopped, but blowing harder and harder

```

**而且** is used to give some extra information and is typically translated as "\*and also; besides; and what's more; but also".

You can use "**而不是**". For example:

```
我们需要的是能力强的职工，而不是吃干饭的
    What we need are people with great capabilities, instead of those who live off others. 

```

You can also use **与其**..., **不如**... which is translated as *rather than ... , you'd better ...*.
An example:
与其少买，不如不买
I'd rather not buy anything at all than buy just a few.

Often Chinese wouldn't use a conjunction at all. For example (these 2 examples come from Nciku)

```
中国人不习惯用刀叉，更喜欢用筷子
    Chinese people prefer to use chopsticks instead of a knife and fork.    

我想上场，不想在余下的比赛中做替补。
    I want to play instead of spend the rest of the match on this bench.

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So its sound better to use 而不是 and reverse the positions of x and y.  In english it doesn't matter where x and y appear as 'instead' can start a sentence or end with it. In chinese it has to balance with 而不是 in the 2nd clause.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-26. Score: 1

Instead can also be used in the "rather than" situation
Like, rather than A, why don't we do B
與其做A, 我們不如做B


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