nìng

宁

Character · AdverbTraditional寧

would rather; how could; could it be that

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 10 examples
1.

adverb

would rather; prefer

Used to express a preference for one option over another, often with a strong resolve.

Tā他
nìng宁
sǐ死
bù不
qū屈
 ，
jué绝
bù不
tóu投
xiáng降
 。

He would rather die than surrender.

Nìng宁
wéi为
yù玉
suì碎
 ，
bù不
wéi为
wǎ瓦
quán全
 ，
zhè这
shì是
tā他
de的
rén人
shēng生
xìn信
tiáo条
 。

"Rather die with honor than live in disgrace" is his life motto.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
nìng宁
kěn肯
zǒu走
lù路
yě也
bù不
jǐ挤
dì地
tiě铁
 。

I would rather walk than take the crowded subway.

Tā她
nìng宁
yào要
zhì质
liàng量
bù不
yào要
shù数
liàng量
 。

She would rather have quality than quantity.

Tā他
nìng宁
kě可
bù不
shuì睡
jiào觉
yě也
yào要
wán完
chéng成
zuò作
yè业
 。

He would rather skip sleep than finish his homework.

2.

adverb

how could; could it be that; how is it possible

literary

Formal literary usage, used to express rhetorical questioning.

Shān山
zhī之
xiǎn险
jùn峻
 ，
nìng宁
yǒu有
yú逾
cǐ此
 ？

How could there be a mountain more precipitous than this?

Cǐ此
shì事
nìng宁
yǒu有
tā他
yīn因
 ？

Could there be other reasons for this matter?

Show 3 more examples
Nìng宁
néng能
rú如
cǐ此
cǎo草
shuài率
xíng行
shì事
 ？

How could you act so carelessly?

Nìng宁
zhī知
wǒ我
xīn心
zhī之
suǒ所
xiàng向
 ？

Do you know what my heart yearns for?

Nìng宁
yǒu有
cǐ此
lǐ理
 ？

How could such a thing be justified?