Expressing "would rather" with "ningke"
宁可 is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option".
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 去 求 别人，我 宁可 自食其力。
- 与其 失去 双腿，我 宁可 保守 治疗。
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.
Some examples:
- 他 宁可 遭受 酷刑，也不 给 敌人 任何 情报。
- 我 宁可 得 癌症，也不 戒烟。
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"
Some examples:
- 我 宁可 几 天 不 睡觉，也要 完成 这个 项目。
- 我 宁可 不 买 房，也要 环球 旅行。
