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

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{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
宁可 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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宁可 is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option".  和“宁愿”相同。
  
 +
== Structure ==
  
First of all, it can be used with 与其 to form the following construction:
+
First of all,宁可可以单独用,用在以下结构中:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 +
Subject + 宁可 + something you prefer
 +
 +
</div>
 +
 +
== Example ==
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 +
* 我 不 想 吃 肯德基,我 <em>宁可</em> 不 吃饭。
 +
* 这 个 地方 太 脏 了,我 <em>宁可</em> 没 地方 住。
 +
 +
</div>
 +
 +
== Structure ==
 +
 +
It can be used with 与其 to form the following construction:
 +
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
与其 + most unfavorable option + 宁可 + unfavorable option
 
与其 + most unfavorable option + 宁可 + unfavorable option
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 
Here, the speaker is choosing the better of two unfavorable situations.
 
Here, the speaker is choosing the better of two unfavorable situations.
 +
 +
== Example ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
 
* <em>与其</em> 去 求 别人,我 <em>宁可</em> 自食其力。
 
* <em>与其</em> 去 求 别人,我 <em>宁可</em> 自食其力。
 
* <em>与其</em> 失去 双腿,我 <em>宁可</em> 保守 治疗。
 
* <em>与其</em> 失去 双腿,我 <em>宁可</em> 保守 治疗。
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
== Structure ==
  
 
The next construction puts 宁可 at the beginning of the sentence:
 
The next construction puts 宁可 at the beginning of the sentence:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 most unfavorable option
 
宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 most unfavorable option
  
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Again, the speaker is choosing between two options, but they are the reverse of above.  
 
Again, the speaker is choosing between two options, but they are the reverse of above.  
  
Some examples:
+
== Example ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 <em>宁可</em> 遭受 酷刑,<em>也不</em>  给 敌人 任何 情报。
+
 
 +
* 他 <em>宁可</em> 没有 朋友,<em>也不</em>  乱 交 朋友。
 
* 我 <em>宁可</em> 得 癌症,<em>也不</em>  戒烟。
 
* 我 <em>宁可</em> 得 癌症,<em>也不</em>  戒烟。
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
== Structure ==
  
 
In the last construction 宁可 is used a little differently:
 
In the last construction 宁可 is used a little differently:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
宁可 + unfavorable action + 也要 + the thing the speaker wishes to gain.
 
宁可 + unfavorable action + 也要 + the thing the speaker wishes to gain.
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
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"
 
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:
+
== Example ==
 +
 
 
<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。
 
* 我 <em>宁可</em> 几 天 不 睡觉,<em>也要</em> 完成 这个 项目。
 
* 我 <em>宁可</em> 不 买 房,<em>也要</em> 环球 旅行。
 
* 我 <em>宁可</em> 不 买 房,<em>也要</em> 环球 旅行。
 +
* 我 <em>宁可</em> 死 <em>也</em> 不 愿 放弃 !
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 08:52, 29 August 2012

宁可 is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option". 和“宁愿”相同。

Structure

First of all,宁可可以单独用,用在以下结构中:

Subject + 宁可 + something you prefer

Example

  • 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

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.

Example

  • 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。

Structure

The next 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.

Example

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

Structure

In the last 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"

Example

  • 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 !


Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5