宁可 … ，也 … (would rather)

The lesser evil

• Your friend suggests taking the crowded night bus. You'd rather walk an hour.
• I我wǒwould rather宁可nìng kěto walk走路zǒu lùto return home回家huí jiā，(still)也yěnot不bùto sit坐zuòlike that那么nà meto crowd in挤jǐ(modifier / structural particle)的dewar chariot (archaic)车chē。 — "I'd rather walk home than take such a crowded bus."

would rather宁可nìng kě A，(still)也yěnot不bù B = would rather A than B

• would rather宁可nìng kě A，(still)也yěnot不bù B = choose A (unpleasant) rather than B (even worse).
• Also would rather宁可nìng kě A，(still)也yěmust要yào B = would even do A in order to achieve B: would rather宁可nìng kěless少shǎosleep睡shuìa bit一点儿yì diǎnr，(still)也yěmust要yào(把: marks the object)把bǎwork工作gōng zuòto make做zuòto finish完wán.

I我wǒwould rather宁可nìng kěless少shǎosleep睡shuìa bit一点儿yì diǎnr，(still)也yěmust要yào把bǎwork工作gōng zuòfinish做完zuò wán。

Firm choices

• he他tāwould rather宁可nìng kěhungry饿è(stay)着zhe，(still)也yěnot不bùeat吃chījunk垃圾lā jīfood食品shí pǐn。 — "He'd rather go hungry than eat junk food."
• would rather ... (than ...)宁愿nìng yuàn is a close synonym: I我wǒwould rather ... (than ...)宁愿nìng yuàn一个yí gèperson人réngo去qù.

he他tāwould rather宁可nìng kěhungry饿è(stay)着zhe，(still)也yěnot不bùeat吃chījunk垃圾lā jīfood食品shí pǐn。

Read it nìng

would rather宁可nìng kě…(still)也yěnot不bù versus rather than与其yǔ qí…better to不如bù rú

• would rather宁可nìng kě A (still)也yěnot不bù B: A is chosen firmly, often with sacrifice.
• rather than与其yǔ qí A better to不如bù rú B: B is the better option: rather than与其yǔ qíto be at home在家zài jiāwait等děng，better to不如bù rúto go out出去chū qùlook找zhǎo — "Rather than wait at home, better go and look."

rather than与其yǔ qíwait等děng，better to不如bù rúgo去qùlook找zhǎo。

Recap

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