would rather; prefer to
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesadverb
would rather; prefer to
neutralOften used with 与其 (yǔ qí, 'rather than') before it to introduce the less preferred option, or with 也不 (yě bù, 'and not') after it to introduce the unacceptable alternative. When the rejected option is implied or obvious, it can be used alone, often followed by 的好 (de hǎo) to mean 'it's better to...' or 'it's advisable to...'
Yǔ与
qí其
zài在
zhè这
er儿
děng等
chē车
，
nìng宁
kě可
zǒu走
zhe着
qù去
。
Rather than waiting for the bus here, I'd rather walk there.
Tā他
nìng宁
kě可
zì自
jǐ己
chī吃
diǎn点
kuī亏
，
yě也
bù不
yuàn愿
kuī亏
le了
bié别
rén人
。
He would rather suffer a loss himself than let others suffer.
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Wǒ我
nìng宁
kě可
duō多
huā花
diǎn点
qián钱
，
yě也
yào要
mǎi买
zhì质
liàng量
hǎo好
de的
。
I'd rather spend more money to buy something of good quality.
Wǒ我
men们
nìng宁
kě可
jǐng警
tì惕
yī一
diǎn点
de的
hǎo好
。
It's better for us to be a bit more vigilant.
Nìng宁
kě可
è饿
sǐ死
，
yě也
bù不
xiàng向
dí敌
rén人
tóu投
xiáng降
。
I'd rather starve to death than surrender to the enemy.