Unit 12: Rather Than Doing (-느니 차라리)

We learned -(으)ㄹ 바에야 (Might as well / I'd rather). -느니 차라리 is very similar but focuses heavily on comparing two actions, expressing that the first action is so bad that the second action is preferable.

Structure

Verb Stem + -느니 (차라리)

• 가다 -> 가느니 차라리 (Rather than going, I'd rather...)
• 죽다 -> 죽느니 차라리 (Rather than dying, I'd rather...)
• 만나다 -> 만나느니 차라리 (Rather than meeting, I'd rather...)

Examples

• 그 사람을 만나느니 차라리 혼자 놀겠어요. (Rather than meeting that person, I'd rather play alone.)
• 이렇게 맛없는 음식을 먹느니 차라리 굶을래요. (Rather than eating this tasteless food, I'd rather starve.)
• 포기하고 후회하느니 차라리 실패하는 게 나아요. (Rather than giving up and regretting it, it is better to fail.)