AdverbsHSK 6
Comparing 不得不 and 只好
不得不 indicates an objective, unavoidable compulsion to do something, often due to external pressures. 只好 expresses a subjective, reluctant decision made after other options have failed. Both patterns are followed by a verb phrase.
Structure
Subj. + 不得不 + Verb Phrase
expresses an objective, unavoidable compulsion
Subj. + 只好 + Verb Phrase
expresses a subjective, reluctant choice after other options fail
Examples
- 我不得不加班。wǒ bù dé bù jiābān .I have no choice but to work overtime.
- 他不得不承认错误。tā bù dé bù chéngrèn cuòwù .He had to admit his mistake.
- 下雨了，我们只好取消野餐。xià yǔ le, wǒmen zhǐ hǎo qǔxiāo yěcān .It rained, so we had to cancel the picnic.
- 没有人帮我，我只好自己做。méiyǒu rén bāng wǒ, wǒ zhǐ hǎo zìjǐ zuò .No one helped me, so I had to do it myself.
- 我不得不去医院，但是没有出租车，我只好走路去。wǒ bù dé bù qù yīyuàn, dànshì méiyǒu chūzūchē, wǒ zhǐ hǎo zǒulù qù .I had to go to the hospital, but there were no taxis, so I had to walk.