2ADV-BRD-NEG [ADVERB before verb]几乎不;简直不 You can use scarcely to say that something is not true or is not the case, in a humorous or critical way. 几乎不;简直不
It can scarcely be coincidence.
它不太可能是巧合。
Yesterday, however, his views seemed scarcely relevant.
然而,昨天他的观点似乎毫无关联。
It was scarcely in their interest to let too many people know.
3ADV-BRD-NEG [ADVERB before verb]刚…(就…) If you say scarcely had one thing happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second. 刚…(就…)
Scarcely had they left before soldiers arrived armed with rifles.
他们刚离开,扛着步枪的士兵们就到了。
Bruce had scarcely shaken our hands when the phone rang.