宁可
Old HSK 5
宁可 (nìngkě) · would rather
宁可 (nìngkě) means “would rather; prefer to”. It is written with 2 characters: 宁 (calm) + 可 (but). It is an old HSK 5 word (HSK 2.0).
How 宁可 is built
The characters
宁 níng · calm
What 宁 is made of
- 宀 — roof
- 丶 — dot
- 冖mì — cover
- 丁dīng — male adult
Origin hint: 宀 gives the meaning, 丁 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
可 kě · but
What 可 is made of
- 丁dīng — male adult
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: 丁 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
我宁可走路，也不想等车。Wǒ nìngkě zǒulù, yě bù xiǎng děng chē.I'd rather walk than wait for the bus.
他宁可自己累一点儿，也不麻烦别人。Tā nìngkě zìjǐ lèi yìdiǎnr, yě bù máfan biérén.He would rather tire himself than trouble others.
Questions about 宁可
What does 宁可 mean?
宁可 (nìngkě) means “would rather; prefer to”.
How do you pronounce 宁可?
宁可 is pronounced nìngkě.
Which HSK level is 宁可?
宁可 is in Old HSK 5.
Related words
- 宁静níngjìngpeaceful
- 安宁ānníngpeaceful
- 宁肯nìngkěnwould rather
- 宁愿nìngyuànwould rather
- 可爱kě'àicute
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 可怕kěpàscary
- 可是kěshìbut
- 可以kěyǐcan
- 可靠kěkàoreliable
Learn 宁可 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 5 · Group 69: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.