Expressing "would rather" with "ningke"

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

Using

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.

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."

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"

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.

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.