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到底

dào dǐ
HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Adverb Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. finally
  2. 2. in the end
  3. 3. when all is said and done
  4. 4. after all
  5. 5. to the end
  6. 6. to the last

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items
毕竟
bì jìng

after all

after all, used in declarative sentences to give a reason
最后
zuì hòu

final

finally, in the end (used for sequence)

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 了 in statements: 到底来了 (finally came). With questions, it intensifies the tone: 你到底去不去? (Are you going or not?)

Grammar

Guides that feature 到底

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

3 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min
归根到底 for “In the Final Analysis”

Use 归根到底 to point to the most basic reason or truth behind a situation.

Reading: dào dǐ Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min
竟然, 究竟 and 到底 for Surprise and “What on Earth?”

Use 竟然 for something surprising that really happened, and 究竟 or 到底 to press for the real answer in a question.

Reading: dào dǐ Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 5 min
这也不X，那也不Y for “Nothing Is Good Enough”

Use 这也不X，那也不Y to complain that someone rejects one thing after another.

Reading: dào dǐ Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown
你 到底 来不来？
Are you coming or not, after all?

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 到底

归根到底
guī gēn dào dǐ

after all

说到底
shuō dào dǐ

in the final analysis

强辩到底
qiǎng biàn dào dǐ

to argue endlessly

打破砂锅问到底
dǎ pò shā guō wèn dào dǐ

to go to the bottom of things (idiom)

拼到底
pīn dào dǐ

to brave it out

你到底想怎么样
nǐ dào dǐ xiǎng zěn me yàng

what do you want from me?!

Child Words of 到底

到
dào

to reach; to arrive

底
de

(equivalent to 的 as possessive particle)

底
dǐ

background