Difference between revisions of "Expressing "in the end" with "daodi""

m (Text replace - "{{Grammar Box}} " to "{{Grammar Box}} ")
m (Text replace - "(\r?\n){2}" to "\r\n")
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Grammar Box}}  
+
{{Grammar Box}} \r\n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. \r\n== 到底 as 毕竟 or "in the end" ==\r\nIt 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.\r\n===Structure 1===\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n到底 + reason/characteristic\r\n</div>\r\n===Examples===\r\n<div class="liju">
 
 
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===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
到底 + reason/characteristic
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
===Examples===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 他 <em>到底</em> 是 个 大 老板,出手 很 大方 。 <span class="expl">("He is a high-level boss, after all...")</span>
 
* 他 <em>到底</em> 是 个 大 老板,出手 很 大方 。 <span class="expl">("He is a high-level boss, after all...")</span>
 
* 他 <em>到底</em> 是 个 高手,你 很 难 跟 他 比 !  <span class="expl">("He is a master, after all...")</span>
 
* 他 <em>到底</em> 是 个 高手,你 很 难 跟 他 比 !  <span class="expl">("He is a master, after all...")</span>
</div>
+
</div>\r\n===Structure 2===\r\n<div class="jiegou">
 
 
===Structure 2===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
虽然 + A + 但 + 到底 + B + C
 
虽然 + A + 但 + 到底 + B + C
</div>
+
</div>\r\nIn this structure, A and B are reasons or characteristics, and C is a result or conclusion.\r\n===Examples=== \r\n<div class="liju">
 
 
In this structure, A and B are reasons or characteristics, and C is a result or conclusion.
 
 
 
===Examples===  
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 虽然 房子 很 小,但 <em>到底</em> 是 自己 家,住 着 舒服 。<span class="trans">Even though the apartment is small, and just for one person after all, it's still comfortable.</span>
 
* 虽然 房子 很 小,但 <em>到底</em> 是 自己 家,住 着 舒服 。<span class="trans">Even though the apartment is small, and just for one person after all, it's still comfortable.</span>
 
* 虽然 他 做错 了 事情,但是 他 <em>到底</em> 还是 个 小孩儿,你 就 别 打 他 了。<span class="trans">Although he's done bad things, he is only a child after all, so don't hit him.</span>
 
* 虽然 他 做错 了 事情,但是 他 <em>到底</em> 还是 个 小孩儿,你 就 别 打 他 了。<span class="trans">Although he's done bad things, he is only a child after all, so don't hit him.</span>
</div>
+
</div>\r\n==到底 as 究竟 or "on earth"==\r\n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 [[Expressing "In the End" with "jiujing"|究竟]].\r\n===Structure===\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n到底+question phrase\r\n</div>\r\n===Examples===\r\n<div class="liju">
 
 
==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 [[Expressing "In the End" with "jiujing"|究竟]].
 
 
 
===Structure===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
到底+question phrase
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
===Examples===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 你 <em>到底</em> 怎么 了?<span class="trans">What on earth is up with you?</span>
 
* 你 <em>到底</em> 怎么 了?<span class="trans">What on earth is up with you?</span>
 
* <em>到底</em> 怎么 走?<span class="trans">How on earth do we get there?</span>
 
* <em>到底</em> 怎么 走?<span class="trans">How on earth do we get there?</span>
 
* 内奸 <em>到底</em> 是 谁?<span class="trans">Who on earth is the mole?</span>
 
* 内奸 <em>到底</em> 是 谁?<span class="trans">Who on earth is the mole?</span>
 
* 你最低价 <em>到底</em> 是 多少?我 不 想 跟 你 讲价! <span class="trans">Come on, give me your lowest price, I'm not in the mood for haggling</span>
 
* 你最低价 <em>到底</em> 是 多少?我 不 想 跟 你 讲价! <span class="trans">Come on, give me your lowest price, I'm not in the mood for haggling</span>
</div>
+
</div>\r\nNote 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:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n<ul>
 
 
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:
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
<ul>
 
 
<li class="o"> 你 到底 吃 了 没有 ?</li>
 
<li class="o"> 你 到底 吃 了 没有 ?</li>
 
<li class="x"> 你 到底 吃 了 吗 ?</li>
 
<li class="x"> 你 到底 吃 了 吗 ?</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
 
</div>
+
</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n* [[Expressing "After All" with "bijing"]]
 
+
* [[Expressing "In the End" with "jiujing"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[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) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
==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) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
 
 
* [[Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇)]] (pp.183-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00112ZL5A/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00112ZL5A →buy]
 
* [[Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇)]] (pp.183-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00112ZL5A/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00112ZL5A →buy]
 
{{Basic Grammar|到底|B2|到底|事情 <em>到底</em> 是 办 成 了 。|grammar point|ASGTVEHJ}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|到底|B2|到底|事情 <em>到底</em> 是 办 成 了 。|grammar point|ASGTVEHJ}}

Revision as of 06:15, 26 November 2013

\r\n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. \r\n== 到底 as 毕竟 or "in the end" ==\r\nIt 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.\r\n===Structure 1===\r\n

\r\n到底 + reason/characteristic\r\n

\r\n===Examples===\r\n

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

\r\n===Structure 2===\r\n

虽然 + A + 但 + 到底 + B + C

\r\nIn this structure, A and B are reasons or characteristics, and C is a result or conclusion.\r\n===Examples=== \r\n

  • 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.

\r\n==到底 as 究竟 or "on earth"==\r\n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.\r\n===Structure===\r\n

\r\n到底+question phrase\r\n

\r\n===Examples===\r\n

  • 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

\r\nNote 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:\r\n

\r\n
  • 你 到底 吃 了 没有 ?
  • 你 到底 吃 了 吗 ?

\r\n==See also==\r\n* Expressing "After All" with "bijing"