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到底
到底
dào dǐ
sep-v./adv. do something to the end; in the end, at last; after all, in the final analysis; (used in questions for emphasis) on earth
Discussion of 到底
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In this post, we discuss the differences between 到底 and 究竟:
到底 dào dǐ [v/adv] do something to the end; in the end, at last; after all, in the final analysis; (used in questions for emphasis) on earth
究竟 jiū jìng [adv/n] (used for emphasis in questions) actually, on earth; after all, anyway; truth, outcome
1. 到底 can be a verb, and 究竟 can be a noun. In this two cases, they are not interchangeable. For example, in 1a, 到底 is used as a verb, and in 1b, 究竟 is used as a noun. They are not interchangeable.
E.g. 1a. 我们一定要和敌人斗争到底。 [phr] We must struggle with the enemy to the end.
E.g. 1b. 我们都想知道个究竟。 [phr] We both/all want to know what actually happened.
2. When 到底 and 究竟 are adverbs, used for emphasis in questions, when pressing for an answer, they are interchangeable. Please note that even though they are interchangeable, 到底 is more informal and colloquial, 究竟 is more formal and used more in written text. For example:
E.g. 2a. 你到底 (or 究竟) 在干什么？ [phr] What on earth are you doing?
E.g. 2b. 你究竟 (or 到底) 为什么哭呢？ [phr] Why on earth are you crying?
3. When 到底 and 究竟 are adverbs and mean "after all", they are interchangeable, but we tend to use 到底 more often than 究竟 in this sense:
E.g. 3a. 到底 (or 究竟) 还是老师比我们知道的多啊。 [phr] The teacher really knows more than us.
4. When 到底 is a adverb meaning "in the end, at last", we cannot replace it with 究竟
E.g. 4a. 我等了好久，他到底还是来了。 [phr] I waited for him for a long time, and finally he came.
In this sentence above, we cannot use 究竟
lisaC
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How do I use 到底 (dào dǐ) in a sentence?
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You can use 到底 (dào dǐ) to emphasize a question. For example, you can say: 你到底要不要去？(Nǐ dào dǐ yào bú yào qù?) which means "Do you want to go or not?"
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What is the appropriate context to use 到底 (dào dǐ)?
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到底 (dào dǐ) is used to emphasize a question, usually when the speaker is seeking a definitive answer. It is often used to express frustration or confusion, as if the speaker is asking "What is the real answer here?" or "What is the truth?". For example, one might ask 到底什么时候才能完成这个任务？(dào dǐ shén me shí hou cái néng wán chéng zhè gè rèn wù?) meaning "When will this task be finished, for real?".
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到底 versus 终于:
When it means "at last", 到底 终于 are largely interchangeable:
E.g. 我想了好久，到底 (or 终于) 想通了。I thought it over for a long time and finally figured it out.
And 到底 has other meanings that 终于 does not:
1. 到底 can be an adverb meaning "after all", it means "in spite of any indications or expectations to the contrary".
E.g. 到底还是老师比我们知道的多啊。After all, the teacher really knows more than us.
2. 到底 can be an adverb meaning "on earth". When it's used in this way, it's used in questions only.
E.g. 你到底在干什么？ r/s [phr] What on earth are you doing?
3. 到底 can be a verb meaning "do something to the end"
E.g. 我们一定要和敌人斗争到底。We must struggle with the enemy to the end.
lisaC
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