(nìng yuàn) - would rather, would prefer to in Mandarin
nìngyuànTraditional: 寧願
Translation
would rather, would prefer to
Word origin
宁 (nìng) is the classical adverb meaning rather or sooner, joined to 愿 (yuàn, to be willing, to wish).
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 宁 (nìng, rather) + 愿 (yuàn, to be willing)
Stroke order
宁
愿
Examples
，。
I would rather walk than take the bus.
。
She would rather live on her own.
，。
He would rather earn less and do work he loves.
。
I would rather make it clear right now.
，。
Better to arrive early than to be late.
宁愿 (nìng yuàn) is "would rather". It states a preference between two options where neither is ideal: you accept the cost of one to avoid the other.
It nearly always arrives with a second clause, and the natural pairing is 宁愿 A，也不 B: I would rather A, and not B. 我宁愿走路，也不坐他的车 is a complete thought; 我宁愿走路 on its own feels cut off, as though the listener is still waiting for the alternative.
Watch the tone on 宁. Here it is fourth tone, nìng. The same character is second tone, níng, in 安宁 (ān níng, peace) and in the place name 南宁. Reading it níng in 宁愿 is one of the commonest tone slips at this level.
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宁愿: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "宁愿" (would rather, would prefer to): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 49.