宁可

寧可

nìngkě

adverb HSK 7 #5,505

Meanings

1 would rather
2 prefer to

Characters

Examples

我宁可走路也不坐公交。

Wǒ nìngkě zǒulù yě bù zuò gōngjiāo.

I would rather walk than take the bus.

她宁可少吃一顿，也不愿意浪费。

Tā nìngkě shǎo chī yī dùn, yě bù yuànyì làngfèi.

She would rather skip a meal than waste food.

Tips

grammar

宁可 is used in the pattern 宁可A也不B (would rather A than B). It is interchangeable with 宁愿 in most cases, though 宁可 slightly emphasizes reluctant acceptance.

memory

宁 (rather) + 可 (can) — "rather be able to" do this than that.

Stroke Order

宁 níng

可 kě