2ADV-BRD-NEG [ADVERB before verb]幾乎不;簡直不 You can use scarcely to say that something is not true or is not the case, in a humorous or critical way. 幾乎不;簡直不
It can scarcely be coincidence.
它不太可能是巧合。
Yesterday, however, his views seemed scarcely relevant.
然而,昨天他的觀點似乎毫無關聯。
It was scarcely in their interest to let too many people know.
3ADV-BRD-NEG [ADVERB before verb]剛…(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. 剛…(就…)
Scarcely had they left before soldiers arrived armed with rifles.
他們剛離開,扛着步槍的士兵們就到了。
Bruce had scarcely shaken our hands when the phone rang.