宁可…也…
HSK 4- Conjunctions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 宁可…也… is used to express a choice, preferring to do something undesirable rather than do something even worse.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This structure expresses having to choose between two unfavorable options. The speaker chooses the first option (after 宁可) because it is "less bad" than the second option (after 也).
Simply put, this is a way of saying "would rather… than…". You choose to do something you dislike in order to avoid doing something you dislike even more. The clause after 也 typically takes the negative 不.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我宁可走路去，也不坐那趟车。繁: 我寧可走路去，也不坐那趟車。Wǒ nìngkě zǒulù qù, yě bù zuò nà tàng chē.
I would rather walk than take that bus.
- 我宁可考试不及格，也不作弊。繁: 我寧可考試不及格，也不作弊。Wǒ nìngkě kǎoshì bù jígé, yě bù zuòbì.
I would rather fail the exam than cheat.
- 她宁可单身，也不嫁给不爱的人。繁: 她寧可單身，也不嫁給不愛的人。Tā nìngkě dānshēn, yě bù jià gěi bù ài de rén.
She would rather remain single than marry someone she doesn't love.
- 我宁可加班，也不交不完整的报告。繁: 我寧可加班，也不交不完整的報告。Wǒ nìngkě jiābān, yě bù jiāo bù wánzhěng de bàogào.
I would rather work overtime than submit an incomplete report.
- 他宁可饿着，也不吃他不喜欢的菜。繁: 他寧可餓著，也不吃他不喜歡的菜。Tā nìngkě è zhe, yě bù chī tā bù xǐhuān de cài.
He would rather go hungry than eat dishes he doesn't like.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我宁可作弊，也不考试不及格。Correct:我宁可考试不及格，也不作弊。
The word order is reversed. The clause after `宁可` should be the "acceptable" choice, and the clause after `也` should be the "unacceptable" choice.
- Wrong:我宁可走路去，还是不坐那趟车。Correct:我宁可走路去，也不坐那趟车。
This is a fixed structure; the second clause must use `也` or `也不`, and cannot be replaced with `还是`.