迟早/遲早 chízǎo — sooner or later, eventually

Meanings

1. 1

   sooner or later, eventually

   Not "someday, maybe" but "the exact date is unknown, the fact is not." Used when the speaker is certain something will happen and only the timing is open.

   adverb

Example sentences

• 这个秘密迟早会被发现的。/這個秘密遲早會被發現的。Zhège (fourth tone, falling) mìmì (fourth tone, falling) chízǎo (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) bèi (fourth tone, falling) fāxiàn (first tone, high and level) de. (neutral tone)···

  This secret will be discovered sooner or later.

• 你迟早得学会自己做决定。/你遲早得學會自己做決定。Nǐ (third tone, dipping) chízǎo (second tone, rising) děi (third tone, dipping) xuéhuì (second tone, rising) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) juédìng. (second tone, rising)···

  Sooner or later you have to learn to make your own decisions.