宁可

nìng kě

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adverb Uncommon

Definitions

1. preferably
2. one would prefer to...(or not to...)
3. would rather
4. (would) be better to
5. (to pick) the lesser of two evils

Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item

• 与其 yǔ qí 与其 yǔ qí rather than... often used with 宁可 in 与其...宁可... structure meaning 'rather than...would rather...': rather than...

Synonyms

2 items

• 宁愿 nìng yuàn 宁愿 nìng yuàn would rather ... (than ...) used interchangeably with 宁可 in most contexts to express 'would rather': would rather ... (than ...)
• 宁肯 nìng kěn 宁肯 nìng kěn would rather... similar to 宁可 but slightly more literary, also means 'would rather': would rather...

Usage notes

Common mistakes

宁可 is often used in the structure 宁可...也不... (would rather...than...), and the second clause must contain a negative.

Example Sentences

1 shown

我 宁可 走路，也不坐公共汽车。

I would rather walk than take the bus.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 宁可

• 可 可 kě: can
• 宁 宁 níng: peaceful
• 宁 宁 nìng: would rather