Correct
宁可 vs 宁肯 vs 宁愿
/ nìngkě vs nìngkěn vs nìngyuàn /
Strokes
Definition
宁可, 宁肯 and 宁愿 are all Connections, which means “would rather; more willingly sometimes the choice may not be very satisfactory either”.
Example
宁可, 宁肯 and 宁愿, may be used in the first clause in concert with 也不 in the second clause or used in the second clause in concert with 与其 in the first clause.
In example ①, the two clauses can be reversed.
1
Tā
他
nìngkě
宁可
(
nìngkěn
宁肯
)
(
nìngyuàn
宁愿
)
jìchē
骑车
qù
去
,
yě
也
bù
不
yuàn
愿
zài
在
lùshang
路上
dǔ
堵
sān
三
gè
个
xiǎoshí
小时
(
chē
车
)
。
He would rather go by bike than be in a traffic jam for three hours.
2
Yǔqí
与其
wǒ
我
qù
去
gěi
给
dàjiā
大家
zēngjiā
增加
fùdān
负担
,
nìngkě
宁可
(
nìngkěn
宁肯
)
(
nìngyuàn
宁愿
)
nǐ
你
qù
去
。
I would rather do it by myself than make you do more.
3
Tā
他
kě
可
bu
不
yuànyì
愿意
zài
在
lùshang
路上
dǔ
堵
sān
三
gè
个
xiǎoshí
小时
(
chē
车
)
,
nìngkě
宁可
(
nìngkěn
宁肯
)
(
nìngyuàn
宁愿
)
jìchē
骑车
qù
去
。
He would rather go by bike than be in a traffic jam for three hours.
宁可 and 宁肯 used, when the side given up is very obvious or unnecessary to tell clearly, only the choice is told.
Here there is usually (才) 保险，的好, etc. at the end of the sentence. In this case,宁愿 is not usually used.
4
Wǒmen
我们
nìngkě
宁可
(
nìngkěn
宁肯
)
zǎo
早
diǎnr
点儿
chūfā
出发
cái
才
bǎoxiǎn
保险
。
We'd rather start earlier so as to be punctual.
5
Nìngkě
宁可
(
nìngkěn
宁肯
)
shǎo
少
chī
吃
yīdiǎnr
一点儿
de
的
hǎo
好
。
I would rather eat less.
宁愿 more or less retains the meaning of 宁可愿意 and, therefore, can function as the predicate.
The usages also insinuate a choice after comparison, of 主队 and 客队 in examples ⑥ and of 他 and 其他人 in example ⑦.
If 宁可 or 宁肯 is used, 让 must be added: ……让客队胜利，……让他当领导.
If 宁可 or 宁肯 is used, 让 must be added: ……让客队胜利，……让他当领导.
6
Wǒ
我
nìngyuàn
宁愿
kèduì
客队
shènglì
胜利
。
I would rather the visiting team had won.
7
Wǒ
我
nìngyuàn
宁愿
tā
他
dāng
当
lǐngdǎo
领导
。
I prefer that he is our leader.