Expressing "would rather" with "ningke"

\r\n宁可 (nìngkě) is used where the speaker wants to compare two unfavorable options, and choose a "unfavorable option" over a "most unfavorable option". \r\n==Basic Form==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nFirst of all，宁可 can used alone in the following structure:\r\n

\r\nSubject + 宁可 + [preferable option]\r\n

\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n

\r\n* 我 不 想 吃 肯德基，我 宁可 不 吃饭。I don't want to eat KFC. I would rather just not eat.

• 这 个 地方 太 脏 了，我 宁可 没 地方 住。This place is extremely dirty. I would rather live somewhere else.\r\n

\r\n==Common Form 1==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nThis construction puts 宁可 at the beginning of the sentence followed by "也不"\r\n

\r\n宁可 + unfavorable option + 也不 most unfavorable option\r\n

\r\nAgain, the speaker is choosing between two options, but this time places the preferable option first.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n

\r\n* 他 宁可 没有 朋友，也不 乱 交 朋友。He would rather not have friends than find bad ones.

我 宁可 得 癌症，也不 戒烟。I would rather have cancer than give up smoking.\r\n

\r\nIt 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."\r\n==Common Form 2==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nIn this construction 宁可 is used a little differently:\r\n

\r\n宁可 + unfavorable action + 也要 + the thing the speaker wishes to gain.\r\n

\r\nHere 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"\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n

\r\n* 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.

我 宁可 死 也 不 愿 放弃 ！I would rather die than give up!\r\n

\r\n==Used with 与其==\r\n=== Structure===\r\nIt can be used with 与其 to form the following construction:\r\n

\r\n与其 + most unfavorable option + 宁可 + unfavorable option\r\n

\r\nHere, the speaker is choosing the better of two unfavorable situations.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n

\r\n* 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.\r\n

\r\n== See also ==\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* 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\r\n

HSK5