宁可 … ，也 … (would rather)

Early beats late, at any cost

• preferably宁可nìng kě … ，also也yě … = "would rather …, (than) …" — a firm preference.
• preferably宁可nìng kě早到zǎo dào，also也yěnot不bùto arrive late迟到chí dào = "I'd rather be early than late."
• preferably宁可nìng kě picks the lesser evil and accepts its cost.

preferably宁可nìng kě + A，also也yě(not不bù) + B

• preferably宁可nìng kě…also也yě… chooses A and rules out B.

I我wǒwould rather宁可nìng kěwalk走路zǒu lù，than也yěnot不bùtake a bus坐车zuò chē。

• preferably宁可nìng kěto walk走路zǒu lù，also也yěnot不bùto take the car, bus, train…坐车zuò chē = "I'd rather walk than take the bus."

Recap

Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Sentence patterns.