Difference between revisions of "Expressing "would rather" with "ningke""
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宁可 (nìngkě) is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option." | 宁可 (nìngkě) is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option." | ||
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=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | 宁可 + Unfavorable | + | 宁可 + Unfavorable Option，也不＋Most Unfavorable Option |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>宁可</em> 几 天 不 睡觉，<em>也要</em> 完成 这个 项目。<span class="trans">I would be willing not to sleep for a few days just to finish this project.</span> | + | *我 <em>宁可</em> 几 天 不 睡觉，<em>也要</em> 完成 这个 项目。<span class="trans">I would be willing not to sleep for a few days just to finish this project.</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>宁可</em> 不 买 房，<em>也要</em> 环球 旅行。<span class="trans">I would give up buying a house to travel around the world.</span> | + | *我 <em>宁可</em> 不 买 房，<em>也要</em> 环球 旅行。<span class="trans">I would give up buying a house to travel around the world.</span> |
| − | * | + | *他 <em>宁可</em> 输， <em>也</em> 不 放弃。<span class="trans">He'd rather lose than give up.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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[[Category: B2 grammar points]] | [[Category: B2 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|宁可|B2|宁可⋯⋯，也⋯⋯| | + | {{Basic Grammar|宁可|B2|宁可⋯⋯，也⋯⋯|他 <em>宁可</em> 输，<em>也</em> 不 放弃。|grammar point|ASGF3F2Y}} |
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{{Used for|Giving alternatives}} | {{Used for|Giving alternatives}} | ||
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | ||
Revision as of 09:43, 23 November 2016
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Used for
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Keywords
宁可 (nìngkě) is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option."
Contents
Using
Structure
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
- 他 宁可 没有 朋友，也不 乱 交 朋友。He would rather not have friends than find bad ones.
- 我 宁可 得 癌症，也不 戒烟。I would rather have cancer than give up smoking.
It is the same as in the famous saying said by a female guest on the show 非诚勿扰: "我宁愿在宝马里哭,也不愿在自行车上笑."
Common Form 2
Structure
In this construction 宁可 is used a little differently:
宁可 + Unfavorable Action + 也要 + Desired Obj.
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
- 我 宁可 几 天 不 睡觉，也要 完成 这个 项目。I would be willing not to sleep for a few days just to finish this project.
- 我 宁可 不 买 房，也要 环球 旅行。I would give up buying a house to travel around the world.
- 他 宁可 输， 也 不 放弃。He'd rather lose than give up.
Used with 与其
Structure
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。Instead of depending on other people, I would rather fend for myself.
- 与其 失去 双腿，我 宁可 保守 治疗。I would rather find the cure than lose both of my legs.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 196) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 180) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 84, 99) →buy
