优先于;而不是
If you choose one thing in preference to another thing, you choose it because you like or want it more than the other thing.
He studied chemistry in preference to physics at university. 出于喜好，他大学里学的是化学而非物理。
He would always use ten words in preference to two.
If you forbid children to eat certain foods, they will often want them in preference to others.
He arranged to go to Perth in preference to staying in Canberra.
Their current strategy seems to be to seek peace in preference to military confrontation.
See also: preference