Chinese–EnglishWith examples

不得不

bù dé bù · bu de bu

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. have no choice or option but to
  2. cannot but
  3. have to
  4. can't help it
  5. can't avoid
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In a conversation

0:15 cartoon

Mum's cooking

  1. Dengdeng

    今天(jīntiān)是(shì)周末(zhōumò)，可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)不得不(bùdébù)加班(jiābān)。

    Today is the weekend, but I have to work overtime.

  2. Liangliang

    真的(zhēnde)吗(ma)？

    Really?

  3. Dengdeng

    老板(lǎobǎn)要(yào)明天(míngtiān)的(de)报告(bàogào)，我(wǒ)不得不(bùdébù)写(xiě)。

    The boss wants the report for tomorrow, so I have to write it.

  4. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)周末(zhōumò)也(yě)不得不(bùdébù)去(qù)妈妈(māma)家(jiā)吃饭(chīfàn)。

    I also have to go to my mum's for a meal this weekend.

  5. Dengdeng

    那(nà)不是(bùshì)不得不(bùdébù)，是(shì)你(nǐ)很(hěn)想(xiǎng)去(qù)！

    That is not having to. You really want to go!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)们(men)不(bù)得(dé)不(bù)给(gěi)你(nǐ)一(yì)点(diǎn)帮(bāng)助(zhù)了(le)

We've got to get you some help.

Tatoeba: Chinese by zhangxr91 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

因(yīn)为(wèi)下(xià)大(dà)雨(yǔ)，我(wǒ)们(men)不(bù)得(dé)不(bù)取(qǔ)消(xiāo)比(bǐ)赛(sài)。

Because of the heavy rain, we had to cancel the game.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
不
bù

no; not so; (bound form) not; un-

得
dé

to obtain; to get

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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