Pattern: 宁肯 A 也不/也要 B - 'would rather A than B' / 'would rather A and still B'. The contrast is essential. Near-synonym: 宁愿, interchangeable in most cases. 宁肯 sounds slightly more decisive, 宁愿 more emotional.
mistakes
Don't pronounce 宁 as níng here - in this 'rather' sense, 宁 is read nìng (4th tone). Same character, different reading: 宁静 (peaceful) keeps 2nd tone.
