不得不bù dé bùhave no choice or option but to

1. 1.

   have no choice or option but toadverb

2. 2.

   cannot butadverb

3. 3.

   have toadverb

• 不(bound form) not; un-
• 得to allow
• 不(bound form) not; un-

不得不 goes right before the verb and often follows a reason clause, as in 他病了，不得不休息.

1. HSK 6

   下雨了，我们不得不回家。

   Xiàyǔ le, wǒmen bùdébù huíjiā.

   It started raining, so we had no choice but to go home.

2. HSK 6

   他病了，不得不休息。

   Tā bìng le, bùdébù xiūxi.

   He got sick and had to rest.

3. HSK 6

   天太晚了，我们不得不走了。

   Tiān tài wǎn le, wǒmen bùdébù zǒu le.

   It's too late, so we have to leave now.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你怎么还不睡觉？

   Nǐ zěnme hái bú shuìjiào?

   Why aren't you asleep yet?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   明天有考试，我不得不多看一会儿书。

   Míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì, wǒ bùdébù duō kàn yíhuìr shū.

   I have an exam tomorrow, so I have to study a little longer.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   那我先睡了。

   Nà wǒ xiān shuì le.

   Then I'll go to sleep first.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   好，晚安。

   Hǎo, wǎn'ān.

   OK, good night.

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• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related words

• 不必bú bìneed notHSK 4
• 不够bú gòunot enough; insufficient; inadequateHSK 4
• 不管bù guǎnno matterHSK 4
• 不过bú guòbut; howeverHSK 4
• 值得zhí déto merit; to deserve; to be worth (doing sth)HSK 4
• 获得huò déto obtain; to receive; to getHSK 4

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