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

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宁可 is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "very unfavorable option".   
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宁可 is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option".   
  
 
宁可 can be used in the following constructions:
 
宁可 can be used in the following constructions:
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<div class="jiegou">
宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 very unfavorable option
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宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 most unfavorable option
  
 
</div>
 
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Revision as of 06:56, 7 November 2011

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

宁可 can be used in the following constructions:

First of all, 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.

  • 与其 依靠 家人,我 宁可 自食其力。
  • 与其 失去 自由,我 宁可 自杀。

The following construction puts 宁可 at the beginning of the sentence:

宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 most unfavorable option

Again, the speaker is choosing between two options, but they are the reverse of above.

Some examples:

  • 宁可 遭受 酷刑,也不 要 给 敌人 任何 情报。
  • 宁可 得 癌症,也不 要 戒烟。

In the following 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"

Some examples:

  • 宁可 几 天 不 睡觉,也要 完成 这个 项目。
  • 宁可 把 所有 的 存款 都 给 花光,也要 环球 旅行。


Sources and further reading

Books

Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1(博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) pp.196