不得不(bù dé bù)

HSK 43 characters

have no choice or option but to

Character breakdown

Watch how each character of 不得不 is written, one at a time. When a character is finished, the next one draws.

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Example sentences

How 不得不 is used in everyday Chinese — the speaker reads the whole sentence.

  • 他们不得不后撤。

    tā men bù dé bù hòu chè

    They had no alternative but to retreat.

  • 我们也不得不

    wǒ men yě bù dé bù zuò

    We'll have to do that, too.

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