Expressing "in the end" with "daodi"

到底 (dàodǐ) literally means "to the bottom", and 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 that the speaker considers the reason or characteristic given to be the most important.

我 到底 是 西方人，汉字 肯定 难学。 他到底是个高手，你很难跟他比！

When used in this sense, 到底 is often used in the following structure:

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.

Here are some examples:

• 虽然 小 狼 看起来 可爱，但 到底 是 野生 动物，跟 它 打交道 时 一定 要 保持 警惕。
• 虽然 很 调皮，但是 他 到底 还是 个 小孩儿，你 就 别 打 他 了。

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

• 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)

Finally, 到底 can be used to mean, well "finally" (used in a similar way to 终于 to emphasize that something has been achieved after a lot of time and effort )

• 找 了 半天，到底 找 到 了 一个 合适 的 宾馆。(After looking for ages, we finally found a suitable hotel)
• 这个 问题 我 到底 弄 明白 了。 (I finally figured this problem out)