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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "have no choice but to" with 不得不 (bùdébù)

    HSK 4
    Negation
    Obligation & Necessity

    Structure

    Subject + 不得不 + Verb

    Explanation

    不得不 means "have no choice but to" or "cannot but," indicating that the subject is compelled to do something despite reluctance. It carries a sense of helplessness or inevitability. The double negation (不…不) creates an emphatic affirmative meaning.

    Examples

    • 下这么大的雨,我不得不取消了行程。

      xià zhème dà de yǔ, wǒ bùdébù qǔxiāo le xíngchéng.

      With such heavy rain, I had no choice but to cancel the trip.

    • 为了养家,他不得不同时打两份工。

      wèile yǎngjiā, tā bùdébù tóngshí dǎ liǎng fèn gōng.

      To support his family, he had no choice but to work two jobs at the same time.

    • 证据摆在面前,她不得不承认自己错了。

      zhèngjù bǎi zài miànqián, tā bùdébù chéngrèn zìjǐ cuò le.

      With the evidence right in front of her, she had to admit she was wrong.

    Expressing "have no choice but to" with 不得不 (bùdébù) | Chinese Grammar