(bù dé bù) - have to, cannot but, must in Mandarin
bùdébùTraditional: 不得不
HSK 4
#860 of 5,000 Core 1000
Translation
have to, cannot but, must
Word origin
A three-character set phrase, literally 'not able not': 不 'not', 得 'to be able, to get', and 不 'not'. The double negative yields the meaning 'have no choice but to' or 'must'.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 不 (not) + 得 (able) + 不 (not)
Stroke order
不
得
不
Examples
。
I have to leave.
。
She cannot but accept reality.
。
He had no choice but to apologize.
雨，。
Because of the rain, we had to cancel.
。
He had no choice but to accept this fact.
不得不 (bù dé bù) means have to, cannot but, must. It is used as an expression in everyday Mandarin speech.
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 18.