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不得不

bùdébù

have to

Usage note

这个词用来表达不得不做某事的情况，通常是因为某种限制或压力。

zhè gè cí yòng lái bǎo chū bù dé bù zuò mǒu shì de qíng kuàng, tōng cháng shì yī kǒu yǒu zhǒng lì xíng kòu huò là shì.

This word is used to express situations where one has to do something, usually due to some constraints or pressures.

Context note

这个词常用于描述日常生活中的无奈情况，比如不得不加班、不得不搬家等。

zhè gè cí cháng yòng lái miáo shù rì kāi shēn qū zhōng de wú nài qíng kuàng, bǐ 如 不得不加班、不得不搬家等。

This word is commonly used to describe situations in daily life where one has no choice but to do something, such as having to work overtime or move house.

5 examples

他不得不加班到晚上十点。
tā bù dé bù jiā bān dào wǎn shàng shí diǎn。
He had to work overtime until ten at night.
搬家后，她不得不重新布置房间。
bān jiā hòu， tā bù dé bú chóng xīn bù zhì fáng jiān。
After moving, she had to rearrange the room again.
因为下雨，我们不得不取消野餐计划。
yīn wèi xià yǔ， wǒ men bù dé bù qǔ xiāo yě cān jì huà。
Because of the rain, we had to cancel our picnic plans.
他不得不提前离开会议。
tā bù dé bù tí qián lí kāi huì yì。
He had to leave the meeting early.
为了孩子，她不得不改变工作时间。
wèi le hái zi， tā bù dé bù gǎi biàn gōng zuò shí jiān。
To accommodate her child, she had to change her work schedule.

5 mini stories

小明的妈妈生病了，他不得不请假照顾妈妈。
xiǎo míng de mā ma shēng bìng le， tā bù dé bù qǐng jià zhào gù mā ma。
Xiaoming's mom was sick, so he had to take leave to look after her.
因为天气太冷，他们不得不提前结束户外活动。
yīn wèi tiān qì tài lěng， tā men bù dé bù tí qián jié shù hù wài huó dòng。
Because the weather was too cold, they had to end their outdoor activities early.
他本来计划周末去旅行，但工作安排不得不取消了这个计划。
tā běn lái jì huà zhōu mò qù lǚ xíng， dàn gōng zuò ān pái bù dé bù qǔ xiāo le zhè ge jì huà。
He originally planned a trip during the weekend, but his work schedule forced him to cancel it.
为了给妹妹买生日礼物，姐姐不得不省吃俭用。
wèi le gěi mèi mei mǎi shēng rì lǐ wù， jiě jie bù dé bù shěng chī jiǎn yòng。
To buy her sister a birthday gift, the elder sister had to save money by cutting back on expenses.
因为交通拥堵，他们不得不选择坐地铁去上班。
yīn wèi jiāo tōng yōng dǔ， tā men bù dé bù xuǎn zé zuò dì tiě qù shàng bān。
Due to traffic congestion, they had to choose to take the subway to work.

Mini dialogue

早起上学

A
你为什么看起来这么困？
Nǐ wèishénme kàn qǐlái zhème kùn?
Why do you look so sleepy?
B
因为学校很远，我不得不早起。
Yīnwèi xuéxiào hěn yuǎn, wǒ bùdébù zǎo qǐ.
Because the school is far, I have to get up early.

下雨了

A
雨太大了，我们等一会儿再走吧。
Yǔ tài dà le, wǒmen děng yīhuìr zài zǒu ba.
The rain is too heavy, let's wait a while before leaving.
B
不行，妈妈在等，我不得不现在回家。
Bù xíng, māma zài děng, wǒ bùdébù xiànzài huí jiā.
No, my mom is waiting, I have to go home now.

Related words and contrasts

similar
必须
bìxū
must; have to

不得不 and 必须 both express that there is no choice but to do something.

similar
只好
zhǐhǎo
have to; be forced to

只好 also means having no better choice, but is slightly softer than 不得不.

Explore more words

的 / de我 / wǒ你 / nǐ是 / shì了 / le不 / bù在 / zài他 / tā