HSK 7
与其⋯⋯ ，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯
yǔ qí ⋯ ⋯ ， nìng kě / nìng yuàn ⋯ ⋯
Choosing between options: 与其⋯⋯，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯
Explanation
This is an alternative compound sentence (a sentence with several clauses presenting options to choose from) using the paired conjunctions (a pair of words linking the clauses) '与其...，宁可/宁愿...' meaning 'rather than..., would rather...', indicating that after weighing the options one chooses the latter clause.
与其 (yǔqí) + the rejected option, 宁可/宁愿 (nìngkě/nìngyuàn) + the chosen option. The '与其' clause states what one does not want, the '宁可/宁愿' clause states what one accepts instead.
when both options are imperfect but the speaker decisively chooses the latter; the tone expresses an attitude or decision.
note that the Vietnamese translation reverses the Chinese order—'与其 A，宁可 B' = 'would rather B than A'. '宁可' and '宁愿' are nearly synonymous. It differs from the pair '与其...不如...' (rather than... it would be better to...), which leans toward advising.
mistakenly placing the chosen option in the '与其' clause; and it's easy to reverse the order when translating (remember the latter is the chosen one).
Examples
Rather than spend half a day washing clothes here, I would rather go buy new ones.
Rather than be grouped with him, I would rather do this project on my own.
Practice
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Learn “与其⋯⋯ ，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯” effectively
The grammar point “与其⋯⋯ ，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯” (Choosing between options: 与其⋯⋯，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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