Preference with 宁可...也不
Use 宁可...也不 to express committed preference in advanced Chinese.
Pattern
宁可 + chosen sacrifice, 也不 + rejected option
State a strong preference by accepting one cost and rejecting another option.
我宁可慢一点，也不放弃质量。
When to use Preference with 宁可...也不
宁可 marks the option someone is willing to accept, even if it has a cost. 也不 marks the option they refuse.
他宁可自己吃亏，也不违反原则。
He would rather take a loss himself than violate principle.
我们宁可重新开始，也不继续错误的方向。
We would rather start over than continue in the wrong direction.
她宁可多花时间，也不草率决定。
She would rather spend more time than decide carelessly.
我宁可承认不知道，也不假装明白。
I would rather admit I do not know than pretend to understand.
Common traps
- 宁可 should introduce the option being accepted, not the rejected option.
- 也不 is the normal partner in the second half.
- This pattern sounds strong; avoid it for casual preferences like choosing food.
Vocabulaire de soutien
Targeted drill
Practice this exact pattern before moving on.
Nice grammar rep
Create a free account to save grammar cards, keep future reviews due, and practice this pattern in your study queue.