To downplay one quality and emphasize another, Romanian uses the correlative structure nu atât..., cât.... This translates directly to "not so much... as...".
| The new album is not so much banal, as repetitive. | Noul album nu este atât banal, cât repetitiv. |
| We liked not so much the production, as the originality. | Ne-a plăcut nu atât producția, cât originalitatea. |
Whatever grammatical form follows nu atât (an adjective, noun, or phrase), a matching form should follow cât.
Adding Emphasis with "Mai ales"
To place even stronger emphasis on your preference, insert mai ales (especially) immediately after cât.
| We appreciated not so much the voice, as especially the instrumental. | Am apreciat nu atât vocea, cât mai ales instrumentalul. |
| The critic praised not so much the instrumental, as especially the originality of the composition. | Criticul a lăudat nu atât instrumentalul, cât mai ales originalitatea compoziției. |
Matching Prepositions
If the first contrasted item uses a preposition (like prin or pentru), repeat that preposition after cât (or cât mai ales) to keep the sentence balanced.
| The band moved us not so much through the rhythm, as through the expressive lyrics. | Trupa ne-a emoționat nu atât prin ritm, cât prin versurile expresive. |
| The fans bought the album not so much for the production, as especially for the message. | Fanii au cumpărat albumul nu atât pentru producție, cât mai ales pentru mesaj. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io