I don't really understand this "so much ~ as" sentence structure. What's it mean?

Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
The whole phrase "not so much [something] as [something else]" means to be less like something than to be something else. It's kind of like a comparison between two things to say which one you feel more strongly about. Ex: I'm not so much excited about going to the beach as I am to have a break from work. = I'm more excited about having a break from work than going to the beach. Ex: I'm not so much hungry as I am thirsty. So let's get some coffee instead of food! = I'm more thirsty than I am hungry. So let's get some coffee instead of food! Ex: She's not so much sad as she is angry.