到
底

About

The word 到底 is formed by combining the character 到, meaning "to arrive" or "to reach", with the character 底, meaning "bottom" or "base". This creates a vivid spatial metaphor where the action of reaching (到) the absolute bottom or furthest end (底) of something is used to express the abstract concept of getting to the ultimate point, the final truth, or the very end of a matter.

Example Sentences Hide

你到底要不要来？

Nǐ dàodǐ yào bù yào lái?

Are you coming or not?

我们到底什么时候出发？

Wǒmen dàodǐ shénme shíhòu chūfā?

When on earth are we leaving?

他到底为什么没有告诉我真相？

Tā dàodǐ wèishénme méiyǒu gàosù wǒ zhēnxiàng?

Why on earth didn't he tell me the truth?

尽管遇到了很多困难，但我们到底还是成功了。

Jǐnguǎn yù dàole hěnduō kùnnán, dàn wǒmen dàodǐ háishì chénggōng le.

Although we encountered many difficulties, we succeeded after all.

这个问题到底该怎么解决，我需要好好思考一下。

Zhège wèntí dàodǐ gāi zěnme jiějué, wǒ xūyào hǎohǎo sīkǎo yīxià.

How on earth should this problem be solved? I need to think about it carefully.

Word Definition - 到底

dào dǐ finally; in the end; when all is said and done; after all; to the end; to the last

Individual Character Details

到 dào
底 de, dǐ