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不得不

Have no choice but to

HSK 4HSK 3.0 · 4

S + 不得不 + V

不得不 is a double negative with a strong positive meaning: to be forced to do something against one's will. It is stronger than 只好 and stresses compelling circumstances: 因为下大雨,比赛不得不取消. It goes after the subject and before the verb. Don't confuse it with 不得了 'extremely, terrible' or 不见得 'not necessarily'.

HSK 4–5 gap fills and listening (recognizing obligation).

Examples

  • 因为下大雨,比赛不得不取消。

    The match had to be canceled because of heavy rain.

  • 钱包丢了,我不得不走路回家。

    I lost my wallet, so I had to walk home.

  • 他病得很重,不得不住院。

    He was so ill he had to be hospitalized.

  • 为了赶上飞机,我们不得不五点起床。

    To catch the flight, we had to get up at five.

Exercises

  1. 1.最后一班车已经走了,我 打车回家。

  2. 2.“他不得不同意”的意思是:

  3. 3.由于身体原因,他 放弃了这次比赛。

  4. 4.Choose the correct sentence:

More grammar points