Definition
到底 (dào dǐ) has two uses: (1) in questions it adds emphasis ('exactly, on earth') — this is its most distinctive sense; (2) it means 'finally, in the end', more colloquial than 终于. Unlike 究竟, 到底 is everyday speech; unlike 终于, 到底 can also be used in questions.
adverb
(adverb, used in questions for emphasis) after allexactlyon earthfinallyin the end
Examples
- 到底?Nǐ dào dǐ xiǎng qù nǎge dìfang?Which place do you actually want to go to?
- ,到底。Jīngguò nǔlì, tā dào dǐ chénggōng le.After hard work, he finally succeeded.
- ,到底。Suīrán hěn nán, wǒmen dào dǐ wánchéng le rènwu.Although it was hard, we completed the task in the end.
Grammar
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