不得不 bù dé bù — have no choice or option but to

Meanings

1. 1

   have no choice or option but to

   have no choice or option but to; cannot but; have to; can't help it; can't avoid

   adverb

Character breakdown

• 不

  bù (fourth tone, falling)

  not, no — the general negative, placed before verbs and adjectives

  4 strokesRadical 一

Words containing 不

• 不bù (fourth tone, falling)not (negates verbs, adjectives and modal verbs)
• 不过/不過búguò (second tone, rising)but, however (a lighter contrast than 但是)
• 不但búdàn (second tone, rising)not only … (but also)
• 差不多chàbuduō (fourth tone, falling)about the same, close enough, not much different
• 不管bùguǎn (fourth tone, falling)no matter (what/how…), regardless of
• 不仅/不僅bù (fourth tone, falling) jǐn (third tone, dipping)not only (this one)
• 对不起/對不起duìbuqǐ (fourth tone, falling)sorry; excuse me
• 受不了shòu (fourth tone, falling) bù (fourth tone, falling) liǎo (third tone, dipping)unbearable
• 不客气/不客氣bú (second tone, rising) kèqi (fourth tone, falling)you’re welcome, not at all
• 来不及/來不及lái (second tone, rising) bu (neutral tone) jí (second tone, rising)there's not enough time (to do sth)