Usage note
只好表示没有更好的选择，只能这样做。
zhǐ hǎo biǎo shì méi yǒu gèng hǎo de xuǎn zé， zhǐ néng zhè yàng zuò。
只好 means to have no better choice and can only do this.
Context note
只好常用于无奈或临时决定。
zhǐ hǎo cháng yòng yú wú nài huò lín shí jué dìng。
It is often used for helplessness or a temporary decision.
5 examples
下雨了，我们只好回家。
xià yǔ le， wǒ men zhǐ hǎo huí jiā。
It started raining, so we had to go home.
车坏了，我只好走路去。
chē huài le， wǒ zhǐ hǎo zǒu lù qù。
The car broke down, so I had to walk.
他没带伞，只好等雨停。
tā méi dài sǎn， zhǐ hǎo děng yǔ tíng。
He did not bring an umbrella, so he had to wait for the rain to stop.
今天太晚了，只好明天再说。
jīn tiān tài wǎn le， zhǐ hǎo míng tiān zài shuō。
It is too late today, so we can only talk tomorrow.
我只好重新开始。
wǒ zhǐ hǎo chóng xīn kāi shǐ。
I had to start over.
5 mini stories
门锁坏了，我们只好叫人来修。
mén suǒ huài le， wǒ men zhǐ hǎo jiào rén lái xiū。
The lock broke, so we had to call someone to fix it.
她忘了带作业，只好回家拿。
tā wàng le dài zuò yè， zhǐ hǎo huí jiā ná。
She forgot her homework, so she had to go home to get it.
天气不好，只好取消活动。
tiān qì bù hǎo， zhǐ hǎo qǔ xiāo huó dòng。
The weather was bad, so the event had to be canceled.
他来晚了，只好坐最后一排。
tā lái wǎn le， zhǐ hǎo zuò zuì hòu yì pái。
He came late, so he had to sit in the last row.
没有别的办法，只好慢慢等。
méi yǒu bié de bàn fǎ， zhǐ hǎo màn màn děng。
There was no other way, so we had to wait slowly.
Mini dialogue
只好回家
A
我们还要等多久？
Wǒmen hái yào děng duōjiǔ?
How much longer do we have to wait?
B
雨太大了，我们只好先回家了。
Yǔ tài dà le, wǒmen zhǐhǎo xiān huíjiā le.
The rain is too heavy, we have to go home first.
只好放弃
A
你的玩具找到了吗？
Nǐ de wánjù zhǎodào le ma?
Did you find your toy?
B
找了很久都没找到，我只好放弃了。
Zhǎo le hěnjiǔ dōu méi zhǎodào, wǒ zhǐhǎo fàngqì le.
I looked for a long time but couldn't find it, I have to give up.
Related words and contrasts
similar
不得不
bùdébù
to have no choice but to
Both mean 'have to', but 只好 suggests a less-than-ideal choice, while 不得不 feels more forced.