Declaring the only option with "zhihao"

只好 (zhǐhǎo) is an adverb used to express that one "has no choice but to" or "has no other option but to." The option is one the speaker is not fond of.

Structure

⋯⋯ ，(Subj. +) 只好 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 餐厅 都 关门 了 ，我们 只好 去 吃 KFC 。Cāntīng dōu guānmén le, wǒmen zhǐhǎo qù chī KFC.The other restaurants are all closed, so we didn't have a choice but go to KFC to eat.
• 我 忘 了 预约 ，只好 去 排队 。Wǒ wàngle yùyuē, zhǐhǎo qù páiduì.I forgot to make an appointment, so I had to wait in line.
• 他 没有 时间 去 ，只好 我 去 。Tā méiyǒu shíjiān qù, zhǐhǎo wǒ qù.He doesn't have time to go, so I have to go.
• 老板 不 给 我 涨 工资 ，我 只好 去 干私活 。Lǎobǎn bù gěi wǒ zhǎng gōngzī, wǒ zhǐhǎo qù gàn sīhuó.The boss wouldn't give me a raise, so I have to take on some side work.
• 她 实在 受不了 那么 吵闹 的 邻居 ，只好 搬走 了 。Tā shízài shòubuliǎo nàme chǎonào de línjū, zhǐhǎo bān zǒu le.She really couldn't stand such noisy neighbors, so she had to move away.
• 那天 突然 下雨 了 ，我们 只好 取消 。Nèi tiān túrán xià yǔ le, wǒmen zhǐhǎo qǔxiāo.It suddenly rained that day, so we had to cancel it.
• 警察 给 小偷 看 了 监控 ，小偷 只好 承认 了 。Jǐngchá gěi xiǎotōu kànle jiānkòng, xiǎotōu zhǐhǎo chéngrènle.The police showed the surveillance to the thief, so he had to admit it.
• 公司 付 不起 房租 了 ，我们 只好 在家工作 。Gōngsī fù bù qǐ fángzūle, wǒmen zhǐhǎo zàijiā gōngzuò.The company can't afford the rent, so we have to work at home.
• 票价 太 贵 了，我 只好 放弃 了 。Piào jià tài guìle, wǒ zhǐhǎo fàngqìle.The fare was too expensive, so I gave up.
• 最近 工作 太 忙 了，我 只好 取消 了 我 和 朋友 的 旅行。Zuìjìn gōngzuò tài mángle, wǒ zhǐhǎo qǔxiāole wǒ hé péngyou de lǚxíng.Work has been too busy lately, so I had no choice but to cancel my trip with my friend.

Sources and further reading

Books

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