have to; be forced to; can only
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadverb
have to; be forced to; be left with no choice but
formalExpresses a situation where there are no other options or alternatives. Often used in written and formal spoken Chinese. Synonymous with "只好".
Hé河
shàng上
méi没
yǒu有
qiáo桥
，
wǒ我
men们
zhǐ只
dé得
shè涉
shuǐ水
ér而
guò过
。
There was no bridge over the river, so we had to wade across.
Qì汽
chē车
huài坏
le了
，
wǒ我
men们
zhǐ只
dé得
bù步
xíng行
huí回
jiā家
。
The car broke down, so we were forced to walk home.
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Yīn因
wèi为
tiān天
qì气
yuán原
yīn因
，
háng航
bān班
zhǐ只
dé得
qǔ取
xiāo消
。
Due to the weather, the flight had to be cancelled.
Tā他
méi没
yǒu有
bié别
de的
xuǎn选
zé择
，
zhǐ只
dé得
jiē接
shòu受
zhè这
ge个
tiáo条
jiàn件
。
He had no other choice and could only accept these terms.