Expressing "would rather" with "ningke"
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Level
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Similar to
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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 宁可 with 也不
Structure
This construction puts 宁可 at the beginning of the sentence followed by 也不. 宁可 is followed by unfavorable option and 也不 is followed by most unfavorable option.
宁可……，也不……
Again, the speaker is choosing between two options, but this time places the preferable option first.
Examples
- 我 宁可 没有 男朋友，也不 要 随便 找 一 个 男朋友。I'd rather have no boyfriend than find a random one.
- 我们 宁可 多 花 点 钱，也不 想 这么 麻烦。We'd rather spend some money than having so much trouble.
- 我 宁可 在 公司 加班，也不 想 把 工作 带 回家。I'd rather work late in the office than take my work home.
- 他 宁可 每天 吃 方便面，也不 找 父母 要 钱。He'd rather eat instant noodles every day than ask his parents for money.
- 我 宁可 把 这些 东西 送 给 陌生 人，也不 会 扔掉。I'd rather give these old things to strange people than throw it away.
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
