与其…不如…
rather than A, better to B
Structure
与其 A ， 不如 B
What it means
“Rather than A, better to B”: the speaker rejects A and chooses B.
How it is built
与其 + A，(还) 不如 + B: 与其在家等消息，不如自己去问问 (Rather than wait at home for news, go and ask yourself).
When to use it
Use it to give advice or weigh two options. The mirror pattern is 宁可 B，也不 A.
Watch out
A, after 与其, is the option you reject. Don’t use 还是 in place of 不如: ✗ 与其等，还是去问。 ✓ 与其等，不如去问。
Examples
与其生两个孩子却照顾不好，不如把精力放在一个孩子身上。
Rather than have two children and neglect them, better to focus on one.
与其在家等消息，不如自己去问问。
Rather than wait at home for news, go and ask yourself.
Learn this in Lesson 27 · HSK 5–6: 人口与老龄化 (Population and ageing)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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