むしろ

むしろ means "rather", "if anything": of two ways to describe something, the second fits better – often the opposite of what the listener expects. The first comes before it with より, というより or ではなく, and むしろ introduces the second.

Choosing the better option

With より and ほうがいい or たい, むしろ picks the choice the speaker prefers. Both sides of より are actions, so a verb goes in front of it.

After a denial

At the start of a sentence, むしろ follows a "no" and goes further the other way.

Not "rather" as in "fairly"

English "rather" also means "fairly", as in "rather tired". むしろ never means that: it always weighs one thing against another. For "fairly", use かなり or けっこう.

• × 今日はむしろ疲れた → 今日はかなり疲れた