AdverbsHSK 6
Comparing 不得不 and 只好
不得不 indicates an objective, unavoidable compulsion to do something, often due to external pressures. 只好 expresses a subjective, reluctant decision made after other options have failed. Both patterns are followed by a verb phrase.
Structure
Subj. + 不得不 + Verb Phrase
expresses an objective, unavoidable compulsion
Subj. + 只好 + Verb Phrase
expresses a subjective, reluctant choice after other options fail
Examples
- 我不得不加班。Wǒ bù dé bù jiā bān.I have no choice but to work overtime.
- 他不得不承认错误。Tā bù dé bù chéng rèn cuò wù.He had to admit his mistake.
- 下雨了，我们只好取消野餐。Xià yǔ le, wǒ men zhǐ hǎo qǔ xiāo yě cān.It rained, so we had to cancel the picnic.
- 没有人帮我，我只好自己做。Méi yǒu rén bāng wǒ, wǒ zhǐ hǎo zì jǐ zuò.No one helped me, so I had to do it myself.
- 我不得不去医院，但是没有出租车，我只好走路去。Wǒ bù dé bú qù yī yuàn, dàn shì méi yǒu chū zū chē, wǒ zhǐ hǎo zǒu lù qù.I had to go to the hospital, but there were no taxis, so I had to walk.