Expressing "in the end" with "daodi"

到底 (dàodǐ) literally means "to the bottom", and often is used where the speaker wants to get to the bottom of a problem or issue, emphasizing or questioning what the real reason for something is.

到底 as 毕竟 or "in the end"

It is often used like 毕竟, to mean "after all" or "in the end". When used in this way, 到底 is used to emphasize a reason or characteristic the speaker considers to be most important.

Structure 1

到底 + reason/characteristic

Examples

• 他 到底 是 个 大 老板，出手 很 大方 。 ("He is a high-level boss, after all...")
• 他 到底 是 个 高手，你 很 难 跟 他 比 ! ("He is a master, after all...")

Structure 2

虽然 + A + 但 + 到底 + B + C

In this structure, A and B are reasons or characteristics, and C is a result or conclusion.

Examples

• 虽然 房子 很 小，但 到底 是 自己 家，住 着 舒服 。Even though the apartment is small, and just for one person after all, it's still comfortable.
• 虽然 他 做错 了 事情，但是 他 到底 还是 个 小孩儿，你 就 别 打 他 了。Although he's done bad things, he is only a child after all, so don't hit him.

到底 as 究竟 or "on earth"

到底 can be used to mean "on earth", where it is used to emphasize a question. In this sense, 到底 is similar to 究竟.

Structure

到底+question phrase

Examples

• 你 到底 怎么 了？What on earth is up with you?
• 到底 怎么 走？How on earth do we get there?
• 内奸 到底 是 谁？Who on earth is the mole?
• 你最低价 到底 是 多少？我 不 想 跟 你 讲价! Come on, give me your lowest price, I'm not in the mood for haggling

Note that 到底 cannot appear in an answer to a question. Also, 吗 cannot appear in a question formed with 到底 but 没有 can be used instead:

• 你 到底 吃 了 没有 ？
• 你 到底 吃 了 吗 ？

See also

• Expressing "After All" with "bijing"
• Expressing "In the End" with "jiujing"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 127-33) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp.183-5) →buy