instead 是代替,取代之意：一般用instead of +sth/doing sth
They raised prices and cut production, instead of cutting costs.
他们没有降低成本,而是抬高价格、削减产量.
而rather than 有比较选择的意思,其用法主要有三种用法：
1．跟情态动词would,should,will等连用构成固定搭配,有时rather than可以分开,意为“宁可”、“与其……倒不如”.例如：
1）He would rather beg in the streets than get money in such dishonest way．他宁愿在街上乞讨,也不愿以这种不正当手段赚钱.
2）I'd rather take the slowest train than go there by air．我宁愿坐最慢的火车也不乘飞机去那里.
2．作准并列连词,相等于and not,只能连接词性相同的词项.例如：
1）He was engaged in writing rather than reading the newspaper．他正忙着写东西,而不是在读报纸.
2）It ought to be you rather than me that sign the letter．是你而不是我应该在这封信上签字.
3）She telephoned rather than wrote．她没有写信而是打了电话.
4）He is to be pitied rather than to be disliked．他应该得到怜悯而不是厌恶.
5）I will do it myself rather than ask him to do it．我会亲自去做这件事而不是叫他做.
3．表示两种说法的正确程度,rather than之后紧跟不够精确的说法,意为“与其说……,不如说……”.例如：
1）He is an artist rather than a philosopher．与其说他是个哲学家,不如说他是个艺术家.
2）He lay rather than sat in his armchair．与其说他是坐在扶手椅上不如说是躺在
