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宁肯 (nìng kěn) — would rather; would prefer to (used to indicate a choice between two alternatives, often with 也不 in the second clause)

Definition

宁肯 (nìng kěn) is a written-form adverb meaning 'would rather,' used in a paired construction: 宁肯…也不… ('would rather X than Y'). Stronger and more literary than the spoken 宁可, and used in formal writing rather than everyday speech.

adverb
would ratherwould prefer to (used to indicate a choice between two alternatives, often with 也不 in the second clause)

Examples

  • 宁肯，。
    Tā nìng kěn zì jǐ chī kuī, yě bú ràng bié rén shòu wěi qu.
    He would rather suffer a loss himself than let others be wronged.
  • 宁肯，。
    Wǒ nìng kěn duō zǒu yí duàn lù, yě bú zuò nà me jǐ de gōng jiāo chē.
    I would rather walk a bit farther than take such a crowded bus.
  • 宁肯，。
    Tā nìng kěn fàng qì zhè cì jī huì, yě bú yuàn yì shuō huǎng.
    She would rather give up this opportunity than tell a lie.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

宁níngrather
肯kěnwilling

宁 and 肯 both express willingness or preference, together meaning 'would rather' when choosing between alternatives.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寧; 宁 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 皿皿mǐnfood or wine vessel
  • 丂丂kǎotable (?)
Open 宁 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

肯 is described as showing 冎 (bone) and 肉 (meat), meaning meat attached to the bone.

Open 肯 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6Will & Intention

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