almost not

I was scarcely able to move my arm after the accident. 那场事故以后，我的手臂几乎不能动了。

I could scarcely believe it when she said she wanted to marry me. 当她说想要跟我结婚时，我简直无法相信。

used to say that something happened immediately after something else happened

I had scarcely sat down/Scarcely had I sat down to eat when the phone rang. 我刚坐下，电话铃就响了。

certainly not

I'd scarcely have done it if I didn't think it was absolutely necessary! 要是当时我认为并非完全必要的话，我决不会这么干的。

He's only two - you can scarcely blame him for behaving badly. 他只有两岁——不听话你也不能怪他。