chaiknees Posted July 26, 2011 at 01:52 PM Report Share Posted July 26, 2011 at 01:52 PM Dear all I have some problems with understanding the 宁可 construction. Maybe you can help me. If it is isolated, it means "rather" or "prefer"。 For example: 我宁可坐火车 = I prefer to take the train (compared to sth. else given in the context). If there is a compound sentence and the second part is negated and has a 也不 or 而不, it means "rather than..., ...would...". For example: 我宁可饿死，也不吃你的饭。 = I'd rather die of starvation than eating the food you made. Now the part which confuses me: 1) How about if the second sentence is not negated? Two examples: 宁可少睡一点儿觉,也要多读一些书. 他宁可做得慢一些,也要做得好一些. What is the translation of these sentences? 2) How to turn the compound sentence around? On nciku I found that in the constructions 与其...宁可 or 与其...不如... the second part has the "preferred" option. So does 与其吃你的饭,我宁可饿死. have the same meaning as 我宁可饿死，也不吃你的饭。? Thank you in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted July 26, 2011 at 02:57 PM Report Share Posted July 26, 2011 at 02:57 PM It's really a matter of defining it properly to yourself, I think: 宁可 X = I'd rather have/do X / even at the cost of X [i'll do/avoid Y] 我宁可饿死，也不吃你的饭。 = I'd rather starve, and won't eat your food. = I'd rather starve than eat your food. 宁可少睡一点儿觉,也要多读一些书 = Even if I have to sleep a bit less, I must read a bit more. 与其吃你的饭,我宁可饿死 = Instead of eating your food, I'd rather starve. So yes, it has pretty much the same meaning as 我宁可饿死，也不吃你的饭。 I recommend memorising the 'interpreted meaning' of the combinations: (1) 宁可...也... = Even if I have to ..., I [will/won't] ... (2) 与其...宁可... = Instead of ..., I'd rather ... (3) 与其...不如... = Instead of ..., why not/it's better to ... (not the same as 与其...宁可) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurulu Posted July 27, 2011 at 03:38 AM Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 at 03:38 AM I think that '与其...宁可..' is not widely used. 宁可 is a strong word. (mostly used when you talk to your enemies ) It's usually used to express a strong preference to do something. 与其 and 不如 are much weaker. They are used when a person has two choices, both of which are not too bad. PS. Another word you may want to use instead of '宁可' is '宁愿'. So I would say: 我宁愿坐火车 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted July 27, 2011 at 04:07 AM Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 at 04:07 AM 宁可 is a strong word. I agree. I think the word 寧 is strong, and sometimes it reminds me of 不自由，毋寧死. Another word that can replace 寧可 is 情願. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaiknees Posted July 28, 2011 at 11:42 AM Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 at 11:42 AM Thank you very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.