Difference between revisions of "Expressing "would rather" with "ningke""

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== Common Structure 3 ==
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== Structure 3 ==
  
 
In this construction 宁可 is used a little differently:
 
In this construction 宁可 is used a little differently:
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== Structure with 与其==
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== Structure 4==
  
 
It can be used with 与其 to form the following construction:
 
It can be used with 与其 to form the following construction:
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Here, the speaker is choosing the better of two unfavorable situations.
 
Here, the speaker is choosing the better of two unfavorable situations.
  
== Example ==
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== Examples ==
  
 
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Revision as of 02:27, 17 October 2012

宁可 is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option". It is the same as 宁愿.

Structure 1

First of all,宁可 can used alone in the following structure:

Subject + 宁可 + [preferable option]

Examples

  • 我 不 想 吃 肯德基,我 宁可 不 吃饭。
  • 这 个 地方 太 脏 了,我 宁可 没 地方 住。

Structure 2

This construction puts 宁可 at the beginning of the sentence followed by "也不"

宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 most unfavorable option

Again, the speaker is choosing between two options, but this time places the preferable option first.

Examples

  • 宁可 没有 朋友,也不 乱 交 朋友。
  • 宁可 得 癌症,也不 戒烟。

Structure 3

In this construction 宁可 is used a little differently:

宁可 + unfavorable action + 也要 + the thing the speaker wishes to gain.

Here the speaker must pay a price in order to complete or gain something, a bit like "even though X, I'm still willing to do Y"

Examples

  • 宁可 几 天 不 睡觉,也要 完成 这个 项目。
  • 宁可 不 买 房,也要 环球 旅行。
  • 宁可 不 愿 放弃 !

Structure 4

It can be used with 与其 to form the following construction:

与其 + most unfavorable option + 宁可 + unfavorable option

Here, the speaker is choosing the better of two unfavorable situations.

Examples

  • 与其 去 求 别人,我 宁可 自食其力。
  • 与其 失去 双腿,我 宁可 保守 治疗。

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5