Expressing "in the end" with "daodi"
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.
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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.
For example:
- 他 到底 是 个 大 老板，出手 很 大方。
- 他 到底 是 个 高手，你 很 难 跟 他 比! (He is after all pretty amazing, you'll be hard pressed to match 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 他 做错 了 事情，但是 他 到底 还是 个 小孩儿，你 就 别 打 他 了。
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 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)
Note that 到底 cannot appear in an answer to a question. Also, 吗 cannot appear in a question formed with 到底. 没有 can be used instead, as in the following example:
- 你到底吃了没有？
- 你到底吃了吗？
