不得不

bù dé bù

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Adverb Common

Definitions

1. have no choice or option but to
2. cannot but
3. have to
4. can't help it
5. can't avoid

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items

必须

bì xū

to have to

must; have to (generally obligatory)

难免

nán miǎn

hard to avoid

hard to avoid; inevitable

Usage notes

Common mistakes

不得不 emphasizes a reluctant, unavoidable choice, while 必须 indicates a general obligation or requirement.

Formality

不得不 is slightly more formal and is more common in written Chinese, whereas 没法不 is more colloquial.

Grammar

Guides that feature 不得不

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2 guides

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

Double Negatives for Emphasis: 不得不, 不能不, 没有……不

Use two negatives to make a strong positive, like 不能不去 “have to go” and 没有人不知道 “everyone knows”.

Reading: bù dé bù Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 5 min

Like It or Not with X也得X，不X也得X

Say that something must be done whether anyone wants to or not, as in 去也得去，不去也得去.

Reading: bù dé bù Open guide

Example Sentences

4 shown

我不得不去。

I have no choice but to go.

由于丑闻，他不得不下台。

Due to the scandal, he had to step down.

在权威面前，他不得不俯首。

He had to bow his head before authority.

由于经济衰退，公司不得不裁员。

Due to the economic recession, the company had to lay off employees.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 不得不

no; not so

to obtain

structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc

得

děi