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 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.
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.
- 他 宁可 输， 也不 想 放弃。He'd
rather lose than give up.
- 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.
Using 宁可 with 也要
In this construction 宁可 is used a little differently. 宁可 is
followed by unfavorable actions while 也要 is followed by things that
you desire or something that you intend to achieve.
Structure
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.
- 他们 宁可 花 光 所有 钱，也要 治 好 女儿 的 病。They would spend all my money to cure their daughter's
disease.
- 我们 宁可 多 花 点 钱，也要 解决 这 个 问题。We'd rather spend some more money to solve this
problem.
Using 宁可 with 与其
For more information, you can click 与其.
See Also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Category:
B2 grammar points