Difference between revisions of "Expressing "rather than..." with "yuqi... buru""

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Just like any other language, Chinese has many ways of expressing preference. On of the ways is to use the 与其...宁可(yǔ qí...níng kě)
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Just like any other language, Chinese has many ways of expressing preference. One of the ways is to use the 与其...宁可(yǔqí...nìngkě).
  
 
与其(yǔ qí)......宁可(níng kě)表示在比较之后,不选择前者,而选择后者。
 
与其(yǔ qí)......宁可(níng kě)表示在比较之后,不选择前者,而选择后者。
  
 
==Structure==
 
==Structure==
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与其...宁可 expresses preference by making a comparison. In this grammar pattern,the first option (A) is rejected, and the second option (B) is taken. This is like saying "in comparison to A, I would rather B." You can also swap out the 宁可 for 你愿 or 宁肯, which have the same meaning.
  
 
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A与B两件事情比较之后,选择B,不选择A。
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===Examples===
 
===Examples===
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==Structure==
 
==Structure==
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You can also use 与其...不如 to express a similar concept. Just like the above pattern, the speaker is choosing B over A. You can also add an optional 还, 倒, 真 before the 不如.
  
 
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与其+A,不如+B
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与其 + A,不如 + B
  
 
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==Structure==
 
==Structure==
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I this last structure, the speaker is basically saying the same thing, but actually using it with the verb 说. It expresses an objective judgment or evaluation, and according to the speaker, the latter part (B) is more correct or accurate than the earlier part (A).
  
 
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Revision as of 02:15, 1 April 2013

Just like any other language, Chinese has many ways of expressing preference. One of the ways is to use the 与其...宁可(yǔqí...nìngkě).

与其(yǔ qí)......宁可(níng kě)表示在比较之后,不选择前者,而选择后者。

Structure

与其...宁可 expresses preference by making a comparison. In this grammar pattern,the first option (A) is rejected, and the second option (B) is taken. This is like saying "in comparison to A, I would rather B." You can also swap out the 宁可 for 你愿 or 宁肯, which have the same meaning.

与其 + A,宁可(宁愿,宁肯)+ B


Examples

  • 对待 工作,与其 看得 容易 些,宁可 看得 困难 些。
  • 去 市区,与其 开车 过去,宁愿 坐 地铁 过去。
  • 周末,与其 在家里 宅着,宁愿 和 朋友 一起 去 逛街。

Structure

You can also use 与其...不如 to express a similar concept. Just like the above pattern, the speaker is choosing B over A. You can also add an optional 还, 倒, 真 before the 不如.

与其 + A,不如 + B

A与B两件事情比较之后,选择B,不选择A。"不如"前面可以加“还、倒、真”。

Examples

  • 与其 这样 等着,不如 找点 事 做做。
  • 与其 你 去,还不如 我 去,我 对 那边的 情况 更 了解。
  • 天气 这么 好,与其 在家里 看 电视,不如 去 野炊。

Structure

I this last structure, the speaker is basically saying the same thing, but actually using it with the verb 说. It expresses an objective judgment or evaluation, and according to the speaker, the latter part (B) is more correct or accurate than the earlier part (A).

与其说+A,不如说+B

A与B两件事情比较之后,选择B,不选择A。表示对客观情况的判断,在说话人看来,后一种说法更正确些。

Examples

  • 与其说 是 鼓励,不如说 是 责备。
  • 与其说 你 没 学 好,倒 不如说 说 我 没 教 好。
  • 他的 学习 成绩 有所 下降,与其说 老师 同学 对他 的 帮助 不够,不如说 他 自己 努力 不够。

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK6