宁可…也不…
HSK 5- Conditionals
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to express a choice, preferring to accept something undesirable rather than do something even worse.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 宁可…也不… expresses a resolute choice, equivalent to "would rather… than…" in English. The speaker would rather endure something unpleasant (clause 1) than do something they consider even worse (clause 2).
This pattern emphasizes strong willpower and firm resolve in choosing between two undesirable options. Occasionally, 也 may be replaced with 都 to add further emphasis.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我宁可走路回家，也不坐那趟公交车。繁: 我寧可走路回家，也不坐那趟公交車。Wǒ nìngkě zǒulù huí jiā, yě bù zuò nà tàng gōngjiāochē.
I would rather walk home than take that bus.
- 他宁可饿着，也不吃不干净的东西。繁: 他寧可餓著，也不吃不乾淨的東西。Tā nìngkě è zhe, yě bù chī bù gānjìng de dōngxi.
He would rather starve than eat something unclean.
- 我宁可加班完成工作，也不想把它带回家。繁: 我寧可加班完成工作，也不想把它帶回家。Wǒ nìngkě jiābān wánchéng gōngzuò, yě bùxiǎng bǎ tā dài huí jiā.
I would rather work overtime to finish the job than take it home with me.
- 她宁可单身一辈子，也不嫁给不爱的人。繁: 她寧可單身一輩子，也不嫁給不愛的人。Tā nìngkě dānshēn yíbèizi, yě bù jià gěi bú ài de rén.
She would rather remain single her whole life than marry someone she does not love.
- 为了健康，我宁可少吃点，也不乱吃药。繁: 為了健康，我寧可少吃點，也不亂吃藥。Wèile jiànkāng, wǒ nìngkě shǎo chī diǎn, yě bù luàn chī yào.
For the sake of my health, I would rather eat a little less than take medicine indiscriminately.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我宁可不吃不干净的东西，也饿着。Correct:我宁可饿着，也不吃不干净的东西。
The clause after `宁可` is what one accepts, while the clause after `也不` is what one refuses. Here, "going hungry" is the accepted choice to avoid "eating dirty food."
- Wrong:我宁可加班，但是不把它带回家。Correct:我宁可加班，也不把它带回家。
This fixed structure uses `也` or `都` to connect two clauses and does not use adversative conjunctions like `但是` (but).