Declaring the only option with "zhihao"

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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 kàn le jiānkòng, xiǎotōu zhǐhǎo chéngrèn le.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 bùqǐ fángzū le, 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 。Piàojià tài guì le, wǒ zhǐhǎo fàngqì le.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 máng le, wǒ zhǐhǎo qǔxiāo le wǒ hé péngyou de lǚxíng.Work has been too busy lately, so I had no choice but to cancel my trip with my friend.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books