LEARN + CHINESE / 269 of 300 HSK 7–9
Act Now or Wait? Weigh the Choices例 · 他宁可牺牲生命
“We can take the train or drive. I’d rather take the train than sit in traffic.” 或……或…… lists alternatives; 宁可……也…… says which hardship someone would rather accept; 与其……不如…… recommends one option over another. Choose the frame that matches your move in the conversation.
他宁可牺牲生命，也不出卖组织。
tā nìngkě xīshēng shēngmìng， yě bù chūmài zǔzhī。
He would rather lose his life than betray his organization.
我宁愿自己独立生活也不要他来指使我。
wǒ nìngyuàn zìjǐ dúlì shēnghuó yě bùyào tā lái zhǐshǐ wǒ。
I would rather live independently than let him order me around.
与其坐车，不如走路。
yǔqí zuòchē， bùrú zǒulù。
Rather than take a car, let's walk.
不如我们走着去书店吧？
bùrú wǒmen zǒu zhe qù shūdiàn ba？
Why don’t we walk to the bookstore?
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
huò | or (in statements) |
nìngkě | would rather |
nìngyuàn | would rather |
yě | also; too |
yǔqí | rather than; better than |
bùrú | not as good as |
bùyào | do not; must not |
shūdiàn | bookstore |
chūmài | to sell; betray |
wǒmen | we; us |
xīshēng | to sacrifice; sacrifice |
dúlì | independent; to stand alone |
shēngmìng | life |
shēnghuó | life; to live |
zǔzhī | to organize; organization |
zìjǐ | oneself |
zǒulù | to walk (as transport) |
bùrúshuō | rather say; better to say |
pìměi | to compare favorably with; to rival |
lǜsè | green color |
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