Expressing "in the end" with "daodi"
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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 reason or characteristic the speaker considers to be the most important.
- 我 到底 是 个 法国人, 当然 很 浪漫！(I am after all French, of course I'm romantic!)
- 他 到底 是 个 高手，你 很 难 跟 他 比! (He is after all pretty amazing, it's going to be difficult to compete with him)
When used in this way, 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)
Lastly, 到底 can be used to mean "finally". It is used to emphasize that something has been achieved after a lot of time and effort has been expended.
- 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)
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. 127-133
