与其…宁可【yǔqí…nìngkě】

与其…宁可 sets two options side by side and states which one the speaker chooses: "rather than A, I'd rather B". The option after 与其 is rejected; the one after 宁可 is chosen, usually at some cost – more effort, more time, going without. 宁愿 and 宁肯 can replace 宁可 with the same meaning.

The subject usually comes before 宁可 in the second clause.

宁可 or 不如

与其…不如 is a judgement: B is the better option, often as advice to someone else. 与其…宁可 is a resolve: the speaker – or the subject – has decided on B and accepts what it costs. The 不如 frame has its own point.

The rejected option goes first

English "I'd rather B than A" puts the choice first. Here 与其 marks the rejected option and always comes first.

• × 我宁可走回去，与其在这里等 → 与其在这里等，我宁可走回去