宁愿

寧願

nìngyuàn

adverb HSK 7 #2,468

Meanings

1 would rather
2 prefer to

Characters

wish; be willing

Examples

他宁愿一个人待着。

Tā nìngyuàn yī gè rén dāizhe.

He would rather be alone.

我宁愿早起也不想迟到。

Wǒ nìngyuàn zǎoqǐ yě bù xiǎng chídào.

I would rather get up early than be late.

Tips

grammar

宁愿 follows the same pattern as 宁可: 宁愿A也不B. 宁愿 slightly emphasizes willing choice, while 宁可 emphasizes reluctant acceptance. In practice they are often interchangeable.

Stroke Order

宁 níng

愿 yuàn