～というより — Rather than… / More like…

Type/combination	Structure with ～というより	Structure example	Notes
N	A(名)＋というより＋B(名/形/文)	彼は先生というより友達だ。	Usually omit だ before というより
Aい	Aい＋というより＋B	暑いというより蒸し暑い。	Comparison/adjustment of phrasing
Aな	Aな（だを often omitted）＋というより＋B	便利というより危険だ。	Can use だというより (emphatic, more formal)
V (plain form)	V普通形＋というより＋B	勝ったというより助かった。	Often a judgment/adjustment of nuance
Emphatic variant	A＋というより（は）＋むしろ＋B	働くというよりはむしろ遊んでいる。	むしろ = “rather” B

Literally “to say A rather than B,” but in practice it downplays/adjusts A and asserts that B is the more fitting expression. Natural translations: “not so much A as B,” “instead of A, it’s more like B.”
A is a general or conventional label; B is the essence/core point the speaker wants to emphasize.
Often carries a tone of correction/clarification and a subjective evaluation; stronger than というか (which works as a softener).
Common in comparing qualities/impressions: “beautiful rather than cute,” “hot rather than warm.”
When むしろ is added: it emphasizes a reversal of expectation—“it should be B instead.”

彼はリーダーというよりムードメーカーだ。
He's not so much a “leader” as a mood maker.
この映画は怖いというより悲しい。
This movie is sad rather than scary.
それは失敗というより学びだ。
That's not a failure; it's more of a lesson.
日本は小さいというよりコンパクトだ。
Japan isn't small; it's compact.
勝ったというより相手のミスに助けられた。
We didn't so much win as get saved by the opponent's mistakes.
彼とは友人というより家族だ。
With him, I'm more like family than a friend.

Used to revise the wording, emphasizing that B fits better than A.
Slightly corrective tone; can be polite if used carefully. Adding むしろ emphasizes “contrary to expectation.”
Suited for impressions and evaluations; avoid when a fully neutral statement is required.
In speech, can be replaced by というか (softer) or っていうか (very colloquial).

Pattern	Meaning	Key difference	Short example
AというよりB	Corrects A, asserts B is more appropriate	Strong, deliberate correction	静かというより寂しい
AというかB	How should I put it... kind of B	Vague, weakens assertion	面白いというか変
AよりB	Simple comparison	Does not carry the “correcting the expression” nuance	犬より猫が好き
AというよりはむしろB	Emphasizes “rather, it’s B”	Strong reversal nuance	努力というよりはむしろ才能
どちらかといえばB	If I had to choose, I'd lean toward B	Mild, polite	どちらかといえば辛い

With nouns/na-adjectives, だ before というより is often omitted; using だというより isn’t wrong but is more formal.
A can be quite negative to set up a positive B (or vice versa) for rhetorical effect.
In polite disagreement, you can preface with: どちらかというと/私の印象では…＋B。

Reversing A/B: it must be “AというよりB” (B is the main point).
Unnecessary だ: “先生だというより” isn’t wrong, but “先生というより” is usually more natural.
Using it when A and B aren’t on the same axis of comparison: they should be in the same category/property to be logical.
Confusing it with AよりB (simple comparison) on JLPT questions: というより has a “correcting the expression” nuance.