与其 (yǔ qí) — (conjunction) rather than; used in the pattern 与其 A 不如/宁可 B to express choosing B over A

Definition

Examples

• 与其浪费时间玩游戏，不如出去运动。
  yǔ qí Làng fèi shí jiān wán yóu xì, bù rú chū qù yùn dòng.
  Rather than waste time playing games, it's better to go out and exercise.
• 与其买那么贵的东西，我宁可存钱旅行。
  yǔ qí Mǎi nà me guì de dōng xī, wǒ nìng kě cún qián lǚ xíng.
  Rather than buy such expensive things, I'd rather save money for travel.
• 与其现在后悔，不如当初多努力。
  yǔ qí Xiàn zài hòu huǐ, bù rú dāng chū duō nǔ lì.
  Rather than regret it now, it's better to have worked harder in the first place.

Grammar