Expressing "in the end" with "daodi"
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\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===Examples===\r\n
- 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...")
\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===Examples===\r\n
- 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
\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
- 你 到底 吃 了 没有 ？
- 你 到底 吃 了 吗 ？
\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) →buy
- Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp.183-5) →buy
