Paraphrase Package

[rather than..., it would be better to...]
+[that is to say]
+[it's better we..., instead of...]

• good for contrast
• good for expressing disagreement
  
• good for making a better proposal
• good for giving a better interpretation
  

我認為，(我們)與其把焦點放在這裡，不如把焦點放在未來。換句話說，我們應該把焦點放在未來，而不是放在這件事情上。

Wǒ rènwéi, (wǒmen) yǔqí bǎ jiāodiǎn fàng zài zhèli, bùrú bǎ jiāodiǎn fàng zài wèilái. Huànjùhuàshuō, wǒmen yīnggāi bǎ jiāodiǎn fàng zài wèilái, ér bùshi fàng zài zhè jiàn shìqing shàng.

[Steps for Self-study]

1. Address others' opinion or solution about something.
   
2. To express different idea,
   
   • in the first half of the sentence: Subject followed by "與其" then others' opinion. If the subject is unnecessary, then start with "與其."
   • in the second half of the sentence: start with "不如" then my own idea.
     
3. Explain why my idea is better.
4. Paraphrase it by starting with "換句話說 (Huànjùhuàshuō)" and then proceed it with a sentence,using "而不是(ér bùshi)", which means "it is better to follow my idea instead of others'.
   

-- by Ruiyun & Mandarinholic

• [A]談到美國的文化，很多人說，要了解美國文化，應該看一看好萊塢電影，你同意嗎？
  [A]Tándào Měiguó de wénhuà, hěn duō rén shuō, yào liǎojiě Měiguó wénhuà, yīnggāi kàn yi kàn Hǎoláiwù diànyǐng, nǐ tóngyì ma?
  
  
• [B] 的確，很多人認為，要了解美國的文化，得看好萊塢電影。
  [B] Díquè, hěn duō rén rènwéi, yào liǎojiě Měiguó de wénhuà, děi kàn Hǎoláiwù diànyǐng.
  
  
• [B] 我並不同意，因為，我想，好萊塢的電影誇大美國的文化，反過來說，美國的文學作品更能反映美國的文化。
  [B] Wǒ bìng bù tóngyì, yīnwèi, wǒ xiǎng, Hǎoláiwù de diànyǐng kuādà Měiguó de wénhuà, fǎnguòlái shuō, Měiguó de wénxué zuòpǐn gèng néng fǎnyìng Měiguó de wénhuà.
  
  
• [B] 因此，要了解美國的文化，與其看好萊塢的電影，不如看美國經典的文學作品。
  [B] Yīncǐ, yào liǎojiě Měiguó de wénhuà, yǔqí kàn Hǎoláiwù de diànyǐng, bùrú kàn Měiguó jīngdiǎn de wénxué zuòpǐn.
  
  
• [B] 換句話說，要了解美國文化，最好看美國經典的文學作品，而不只是看好萊塢的電影。
  [B] Huànjùhuàshuō, yào liǎojiě Měiguó wénhuà, zuìhǎo kàn Měiguó jīngdiǎn de wénxué zuòpǐn, ér bù zhǐ shì kàn Hǎoláiwù de diànyǐng.
  

[futile negotiation] - better idea

• 各國與其浪費時間討論不可行的方案，不如採取實際行動解決迫切的問題。
• Gèguó yǔqí làngfèi shíjiān tǎolùn bùkěxíng de fāng'àn, bùrú cǎiqǔ shíjì xíngdòng jiějué pòqiè de wèntí.
  

[superficial vs. reality] - better interpretation

• 他這樣做，與其說是為了救經濟，不如說是為了轉移民眾的注意。
• Tā zhèyàng zuò, yǔqí shuō shì wèile jiù jīngjì, bùrú shuō shì wèile zhuǎnyí mínzhòng de zhùyì.