Mejor VS Más bien

Question

So these both mean better, but they have differences.

Mas bien tarde que nunca.

Mejor tarde que nunca.

Better late than never.

But "Mas bien" is also like "better yet" or "better suited".

Estos vídeos son mejores para hombres Heidita says this one is a no go.

but

estos videos son más bien para hombres. works perfect.

So I think mas bien is like "better suited" or "better yet" and the reason it doesn't work with mejor "Estos vídeos son mejores para hombres" is because .... well why exactly?

Gracias.

Also is it Más bien or Mas bien?

Gracias.

Great question,sorry I don't have a clue . Voting though,and watching answers. - heliotropeman, Jan 23, 2012

Answer 1

Más bien.

The meaning of both overlap, but there are some differences.

In the example you gave about the videos, "más bien" has another meaning: rather. These videos are rather for men. Similar but different from "better".

In fact, I think you should do well enough if you take más bien to mean "rather", all the time. I'm testing it in my head, and I believe it works.

I guess that does work better than better yet, but I still think "These videos are rather for men" is a bit oddly stated, seems like "better suited" in that one. - jeezzle, Jan 23, 2012

Oh yes, there are better ways to say it, no doubt. I was trying to find a single word that could fit. - Gekkosan, Jan 23, 2012

Answer 2

Mäs bien also means rather in the sense of more properly or correctly speaking; more truly That´s how I have heard it.