宁肯

寧肯

nìngkěn

adverb #30,999

Meanings

1 would rather...
2 would prefer to...
3 it would be better to...

Characters

would rather (4th tone); peaceful (2nd tone)

willing; consent

Examples

我宁肯走路也不挤地铁。

Wǒ nìngkěn zǒulù yě bù jǐ dìtiě.

I'd rather walk than squeeze onto the subway.

他宁肯辞职也不愿意妥协。

Tā nìngkěn cízhí yě bú yuànyì tuǒxié.

He'd rather resign than compromise.

宁肯少赚一点，也要保证质量。

Nìngkěn shǎo zhuàn yìdiǎn, yě yào bǎozhèng zhìliàng.

I'd rather earn a bit less and guarantee quality.

Tips

grammar

Pattern: 宁肯 A 也不/也要 B — 'would rather A than B' / 'would rather A and still B'. The contrast is essential — 宁肯 always pairs with 也不 (rather A than B) or 也要 (rather A in order to B). Near-synonym: 宁愿 (nìngyuàn), 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 (níngjìng, peaceful) keeps 2nd tone.

Stroke Order

宁 níng

肯 kěn