Would rather: 宁可…也…
After weighing two unwelcome options, 宁可 marks the one the speaker accepts; 也不 rejects the other, or 也要 states the goal the sacrifice serves.
Structure
（主语）+ 宁可 + 选择的做法，也 + 不／要 + …
Explanation
Chinese words in this text can be activated to show a dictionary gloss.
， “I’d rather walk than take such a crowded bus.” introduces a choice made at some cost. Walking is not attractive in itself; it is simply less bad than the alternative, and the sentence says so with some determination.
The second clause takes one of two shapes. With it names the option being refused, as above. With it names the goal that justifies the cost: ， “He would rather earn less, so long as he spends more time with his children.” In advice, turns it into a recommendation: ， “Better to prepare too much than to run short.”
is an adverb. When the subject is stated it comes after it — …, … — and likewise sits inside the second clause, not before its subject. means the same and is slightly more personal; both are common in writing and in firm spoken statements.
Correct
Say each one out loud before moving on. The audio is a reference pronunciation, not a model to imitate exactly — match the tone contour, not the voice.
我宁可走路去，也不坐那么拥挤的公共汽车。我寧可走路去，也不坐那麼擁擠的公共汽車。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) nìngkě (fourth tone, falling) zǒulù (third tone, dipping) qù, (fourth tone, falling) yě (third tone, dipping) bú (second tone, rising) zuò (fourth tone, falling) nàme (fourth tone, falling) yōngjǐ (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) gōnggòng (first tone, high and level) qìchē. (fourth tone, falling)···
I’d rather walk than take such a crowded bus.
他宁可少赚点儿钱，也要多花时间陪孩子。他寧可少賺點兒錢，也要多花時間陪孩子。
Tā (first tone, high and level) nìngkě (fourth tone, falling) shǎo (third tone, dipping) zhuàn (fourth tone, falling) diǎnr (third tone, dipping) qián, (second tone, rising) yě (third tone, dipping) yào (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) huā (first tone, high and level) shíjiān (second tone, rising) péi (second tone, rising) háizi. (second tone, rising)···
He would rather earn a little less and spend more time with his children.
宁可多准备一些，也别到时候不够用。寧可多準備一些，也別到時候不夠用。
Nìngkě (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) zhǔnbèi (third tone, dipping) yìxiē, (fourth tone, falling) yě (third tone, dipping) bié (second tone, rising) dào (fourth tone, falling) shíhou (second tone, rising) bú (second tone, rising) gòu (fourth tone, falling) yòng. (fourth tone, falling)···
Better to prepare a bit more than to run short when the time comes.
Incorrect — Common mistakes
These sentences are wrong. They are printed here on purpose, each one paired with the repair and the reason, because the error you can recognise is the error you stop making.
Not quite
Incorrect sentence: 我宁可走路去，但是不坐公共汽车。
Correct
Correct sentence: 我宁可走路去，也不坐公共汽车。
Why: The second clause of 宁可 takes 也, not 但是. The two options are being weighed, not contrasted.
Not quite
Incorrect sentence: 宁可我走路去，也不坐公共汽车。
Correct
Correct sentence: 我宁可走路去，也不坐公共汽车。
Why: 宁可 is an adverb: when the subject is stated, 宁可 follows it.
Not quite
Incorrect sentence: 他宁可少赚点儿钱，也多花时间陪孩子。
Correct
Correct sentence: 他宁可少赚点儿钱，也要多花时间陪孩子。
Why: When the second clause names the goal rather than the refused option, it needs 要: 也要 + goal. A bare 也 + verb reads as “also”.
Compared with
Most errors with this pattern are not errors about this pattern — they are a neighbouring pattern arriving at the wrong moment. Read these side by side.
Both frames choose between two options, but they mark opposite ones. 宁可 sits on the option the speaker *takes*: 我宁可走路去，也不坐公共汽车. 与其 sits on the option being *rejected*, and 不如 introduces the one preferred: 与其坐公共汽车，不如走路去. The tone differs too: 宁可…也… is a firm personal decision, often at a cost; 与其…不如… is a calm recommendation after comparing the two.
Rather than… better to…: 与其…不如… →Mini quiz
Question 1 / 3Total score: 0
Fill the gap: 我宁可晚上不睡觉，___ 把这篇文章写完。