与其说……不如说……

与其说这是一本小说，不如说这是一本历史书。

Yǔqí shuō zhè shì yì běn xiǎoshuō, bùrú shuō zhè shì yì běn lìshǐ shū.

Rather than calling it a novel, it's more accurate to call it a history book.

与其说他是老师，不如说他是朋友。

Yǔqí shuō tā shì lǎoshī, bùrú shuō tā shì péngyou.

Rather than saying he's a teacher, it's more like he's a friend.

与其说这是一次失败，不如说这是一次学习的机会。

Yǔqí shuō zhè shì yí cì shībài, bùrú shuō zhè shì yí cì xuéxí de jīhuì.

Rather than calling it a failure, call it a learning opportunity.

与其说他生气了，不如说他失望了。

Yǔqí shuō tā shēngqì le, bùrú shuō tā shīwàng le.

Rather than say he was angry, it's more accurate to say he was disappointed.

与其说这是一份工作，不如说这是一种生活方式。

Yǔqí shuō zhè shì yī fèn gōngzuò, bùrú shuō zhè shì yī zhǒng shēnghuó fāngshì.

Rather than call it a job, it's more like a way of life.

与其说我是老师，不如说我是他们的朋友。

Yǔqí shuō wǒ shì lǎoshī, bùrú shuō wǒ shì tāmen de péngyou.

Rather than calling me their teacher, I'm really more like their friend.

这种做法, 与其说是改革, 不如说是妥协。

Zhè zhǒng zuòfǎ, yǔqí shuō shì gǎigé, bùrú shuō shì tuǒxié.

This approach — rather than calling it reform, it's better called compromise.