在英語考試中，not...so much as這一句型常常出現，若是不熟悉這個結構，考生就很難理解和翻譯。熟悉甚至掌握這個句型的用法，你就可以好好裝個逼。這個句型的用法特點如下

1.從結構上來看，它可以有兩種結構not A so much as B或者not so much A as B

2.從意思上來看，該句型的基本含義為“與其說A倒不如說B”或者“是B,而不是A”但在實際的翻譯中非常靈活。

3.A和B是兩個被比較的平行結構，如同為介詞短語、動詞不定式、名詞短語或其他平行結構。

隻要把握住上述三個用法特點，就不難理解這個句型了。

以下就用十個非常經典的例句，希望你能好好體會其中的奧義。如果能背下來最好。

01

1.Science moves forward, they say, not so much through the insights of great men of genius as because of more ordinary things like improved techniques and tools.

這是1994年的考研翻譯真題。本題考查的是not so much A as B這一比較句型。這裡的平行結構是兩個介詞短語through the insights of great men of genius和because of more ordinary things like improved techniques and tools，兩者在這裡作狀語，修飾謂語moves forward.

譯文：他們說，科學的發展與其說源于天才偉人的真知灼見，不如說源于改進了的技術和工具等更為普通的東西。

02

2. It wasn't so much that I disliked her ____that I just wasn't interested in the whole business.

A. rather B. so C. than D. as

正确答案D.

這是2000年的考研真題。本題考查的是not so much A as B這一比較句型。這裡的平行結兩個that引導的從句that I disliked her和that l just wasn't interested in the whole business.兩者在這裡作表語。

譯文：并不是因為我不喜歡她，而是因為我對整個事情根本就不感興趣。

03

3. It was not so much the many blows he received for the lack of fighting spirit that led to his losing the game.

要把for改成as。這是1992年的考研真題。這道題有一定的迷惑性，因為在英文中的确有for the lack of這一固定搭配，意為"由于缺乏....“但本題考查的實際是not so much A as B這一比較句型。這裡的平行結構是兩個名詞短語the many blow she received和the lack of fighting spirit.兩者在這裡作表語。該句的基本框架結構是：It was...that led to his losing the game.即是一個強調句型，被強調的部分是表示一個原因，說明是什麼原因導緻他比賽失利。

譯文：導緻他比賽失利的真正原因，不是由于他遭受到的打擊，而是因為他缺乏鬥志。

04

4.The conveniences that Americans desire reflect not so mucha leisurely lifestyle as a busy lifestyle in which even minutes of time are too valuable to be wasted.

這是1995年的考研真題，·本句含有not so much A as B這一比較句型，，這裡的平行結構是兩個名詞短語a leisurely lifestyle和a busy lifestyle，兩者在這裡作reflect的賓語。

譯文：美國人所渴望的種種便利設施，與其說是反映了一種休閑的生活方式，倒不如說是反映了一種忙碌的生活方式，正是因為忙碌，所以每分鐘都很寶貴而不容浪費。

05

5.For the women of my generation who were urged to keep juggling through the '80s, downshifting in the mid-'90s is not so much a search for the mythical good life--growing your own organic vegetables, and risking turning into one--as a personal recognition of your limitations.

本句含有not so much A as B這一比較句型。這裡的平行結構是兩個名詞短語a search for the mythical good life-growing your own organic vegetables, and risking turning into one 和 a personal recognition of your limitations，兩者在這裡作表語。

譯文：對于我們這一代在20世紀80年代被敦促要搏擊生活的女性來說，在90年代中期過着節奏放慢的生活，與其說是對神秘的美好生活的追求——自己種有機蔬菜、冒險進入一個仙境——倒不如說我們都認識到了自己的局限性。

06

6.The great use of a school education is not so much to teach you things as to teach you the art of learning.

這裡被比較的是兩個動詞不定式短語to teach you things和to teach you the art of learning.

譯文：學校教育的偉大作用不在于教會你多少東西，而在于教會你學習的技巧。

07

7.The trumpet player was certainly loud, but I was notbothered by his loudness so mıłch as by his lack of talent.

這裡被比較的是兩個介詞短語by his loudness和by his lack of talent.

譯文：這個吹喇叭的人，吹的聲音夠大，但是讓我很煩的不是他的大聲，而是他根本就是缺乏演奏天賦。

08

8.The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.

譯文：人生的意義不在于你目前身在何處，而在于你心向何方。

09

9.We both agreed that our marriage had taken a marked decline in the romance department. And it wasn't a lack of sex that concerned us so much as the lack of conversation. Conversation, in fact, has always been our aphrodisiac.

譯文：我們倆都承認，我們的婚姻在浪漫這方面已大打折扣了，這倒不是因為缺少性生活，而在于缺少交流。事實上，保持交談曾一直是我們感情的催化劑。

10

10.He does not respect learning and prefers"sport". The problem set for society is not the virtue of the type so much as its adequacy for its function.

譯文：他不重視學習，隻喜歡"消遣"。社會要回答的問題并不是這類人物有無美德，而是他是否勝任其職務。