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宁可 … ，也 … (would rather)
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A preference accepts a cost
- A person prefers walking to taking a bus.
- I我would rather宁可walk走路，than也not不take a bus坐车。 — Walking is the stated preference over the bus option.
A person prefers walking to taking a bus. What does 我宁可走路，也不坐车。 communicate?
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Walking is the stated preference over the bus option. The sentence expresses a choice or willingness. It does not report that the walk already occurred or that the preference applies without limits in every situation.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is would rather宁可 … ，than也 … (would rather). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我would rather宁可walk走路，than也not不take a bus坐车。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: I'd rather walk than take the bus: 我 ____ 走路，也不坐车。
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宁可 + A，也(不) + B = would rather A than B: 宁可走路,也不坐车.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, I我would rather宁可walk走路，than也not不take a bus坐车。: Walking is the stated preference over the bus option.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
宁可 expresses…
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宁可早到，也不迟到 — picks the lesser evil.
Know the boundary
- The sentence expresses a choice or willingness.
- It does not report that the walk already occurred or that the preference applies without limits in every situation.
宁可 pairs with 也 (often 也不) in the second clause.
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Yes — 宁可…，也(不)….
The sentence proves the speaker has already finished walking.
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The sentence expresses a choice or willingness. It does not report that the walk already occurred or that the preference applies without limits in every situation. Walking is the stated preference over the bus option.
Use the distinction
- Walking is the stated preference over the bus option.
- The sentence expresses a choice or willingness. It does not report that the walk already occurred or that the preference applies without limits in every situation.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Sentence patterns.
A person prefers walking to taking a bus. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.