How common it is
到底 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say dàodǐ slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
到底用来表示最终结果或原因，可以放在句子中间或句尾。
dàodǐ yòng lái biǎoshì zhōngjiān jiéguǒ huò qíyú, kěyǐ fàng zài jùzi zhōngjiān huò jǔwén wūmiàn.
到底 is used to indicate the final result or reason and can be placed in the middle of a sentence or at the end.
Context note
这个词常用于询问原因或结果，比如在讨论事情的最终结果时。
zhè gè cí cháng yòng lái wènshì yuányīn huò jiéguǒ, rúkě zài tǎolùn shìqì de zhōngjiān jiéguǒ shí.
This word is often used to ask about reasons or results, such as when discussing the final outcome of an event.
5 examples
他到底有没有来？
tā dào dǐ yǒu méi yǒu lái？
Did he come or not?
这个问题到底怎么解决？
zhè ge wèn tí dào dǐ zěn me jiě jué？
How should this problem be solved?
我们到底几点出发？
wǒ men dào dǐ jǐ diǎn chū fā？
What time are we leaving?
他到底为什么生气了？
tā dào dǐ wèi shén me shēng qì le？
Why is he angry?
这个项目到底进展到哪一步了？
zhè ge xiàng mù dào dǐ jìn zhǎn dào nǎ yí bù le？
How far has this project progressed?
5 mini stories
妈妈问小明，你到底想不想去公园玩。小明说，我想去。
mā mā wèn xiǎo míng， nǐ dào dǐ xiǎng bu xiǎng qù gōng yuán wán。 xiǎo míng shuō， wǒ xiǎng qù。
Mom asked Xiaoming, 'Do you really want to go to the park?' Xiaoming said, 'I do.'
老师问同学们，这个实验到底成功了没有。大家都说成功了。
lǎo shī wèn tóng xué men， zhè ge shí yàn dào dǐ chéng gōng le méi yǒu。 dà jiā dōu shuō chéng gōng le。
The teacher asked the students if the experiment was successful. Everyone said it was.
爸爸问小华，你到底想不想去学钢琴。小华说，我想去。
bà bà wèn xiǎo huá， nǐ dào dǐ xiǎng bu xiǎng qù xué gāng qín。 xiǎo huá shuō， wǒ xiǎng qù。
Dad asked Xiaohua, 'Do you really want to learn piano?' Xiaohua said, 'I do.'
妈妈问小红，这个礼物到底要不要送。小红说，要送。
mā ma wèn xiǎo hóng， zhè ge lǐ wù dào dǐ yào bu yào sòng。 xiǎo hóng shuō， yào sòng。
Mom asked Xiaohong, 'Should I send this gift or not?' Xiaohong said, 'Yes, send it.'
老师问同学们，这道题到底怎么做。大家都说做出来了。
lǎo shī wèn tóng xué men， zhè dào tí dào dǐ zěn me zuò。 dà jiā dōu shuō zuò chū lái le。
The teacher asked the students how to solve this problem. Everyone said they had solved it.