到底 dàodǐ

Grammar Point:
The Chinese grammar structure 到底 dàodǐ is a commonly used phrase that serves three functions and can be translated to mean “what on earth”, “finally”, or “after all”. Here are the functions, structures, and examples of 到底 dàodǐ:

Function 1 – Structure

Used to express a question that requires a clear answer, this structure usually indicates that the speaker is a little impatient or annoyed.

到底 dàodǐ + Question Word

你nǐ到底dàodǐ在zài做zuò什麼shénme？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ在zài做zuò什么shénme？
What on earth are you doing?

她tā到底dàodǐ為什麼wèishénme不bú愛ài我wǒ？ 她tā到底dàodǐ为什么wèishénme不bú爱ài我wǒ？
Why on earth she doesn’t love me?

我的wǒde錢qián到底dàodǐ在zài哪裡nǎlǐ？ 我的wǒde钱qián到底dàodǐ在zài哪儿nǎr？
Where the hell is my money?

他tā到底dàodǐ幾jǐ點diǎn才cái會huì到dào？ 他tā到底dàodǐ几jī点diǎn才cái会huì到dào？
What time exactly will he arrive?

孩子háizi的de爸bà到底dàodǐ是shì誰shéi？ 孩子háizi的de爸bà到底dàodǐ是shì谁shéi？
Who on earth is your child‘s father?

到底 + Verb ＋ 不 / 没 ＋ Verb

你nǐ到底dàodǐ要yào去qù還是háishì不bú去qù？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ要yào去qù还是háishì不bú去qù？
Are you going or not!?

他tā到底dàodǐ做zuò沒做méizuò完wán他的tāde報告bàogào？ 他tā到底dàodǐ做zuò没做méizuò完wán他的tāde报告bàogào？
Did he finish his report or not?

你nǐ到底dàodǐ愛ài不愛búài我wǒ？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ爱ài不爱búài我wǒ？
Do you love me or not?

Note: Grammatically, the 嗎吗 ma structure does not work with the grammar of 到底 dàodǐ, but some Taiwanese people do use it in oral conversation. However, if you are preparing for the HSK exam, instead of using 嗎吗 ma, you can place 沒没有 méiyǒu or 不 bù+V at the end of the sentence.

你nǐ到底dàodǐ愛ài我wǒ嗎ma？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ爱ài我wǒ吗ma？ ❌
Do you love me or not?

你nǐ到底dàodǐ愛ài我wǒ不愛búài？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ爱ài我wǒ不爱búài？ ✅
Do you love me or not?

你nǐ到底dàodǐ做zuò完wán你的nǐde報告bàogào沒有méiyǒu？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ做zuò完wán你的nǐde报告bàogào没有méiyǒu？ ✅
Have you finished your report or not?

Function 2 – Structure

到底 dàodǐ + V + 了

Used to express ”finally“ or “in the end“. In this case, it’s very similar to 最後后 zuìhòu and 終於终于 zhōngyú.

他tā到底dàodǐ還是háishì破產pòchǎn了le他tā到底dàodǐ还是háishì破产pòchǎn了le
He’s still broke after all.

經過jīngguò了le那麼nàme長cháng的de冬天dōngtiān， 春天chūntiān到底dàodǐ是shì來lái了le经过jīngguò了le那么nàme长cháng的de冬天dōngtiān， 春天chūntiān到底dàodǐ是shì来lái了le
After such a long winter, spring has finally come.

分手fēnshǒu的de理由lǐyóu， 我wǒ現在xiànzài到底dàodǐ是shì明白míngbái了le分手fēnshǒu的de理由lǐyóu， 我wǒ现在xiànzài到底dàodǐ是shì明白míngbai了le
I finally understand the reason why we broke up.

Function 3 – Structure

到底 dàodǐ + the fact that you want to emphasize

Used to express a statement of fact or truth, this phrase is not very often used by the younger generation. It is equivalent to 怎麼說么说也 zěnme shuō yě.

到底dàodǐ是shì在zài國外guówài讀dú過guò書shū的de， 英文yīngwén說shuō起來qǐlái就是jiùshì好hǎo到底dàodǐ是shì在zài国外guówài读dú过guò书shū的de， 英文yīngwén说shuō起来qǐlái就是jiùshì好hǎo
She has studied abroad, after all. Look how fluent her English is.

🟰怎麼說zěnmeshuō也yě是shì在zài國外guówài讀dú過guò書shū的de， 英文yīngwén說shuō起來qǐlái就是jiùshì好hǎo怎么说zěnmeshuō也yě是shì在zài国外guówài读dú过guò书shū的de， 英文yīngwén说shuō起来qǐlái就是jiùshì好hǎo

FYI
Have you heard of “Hǎi Guī Pài” (海龜龟派) in Taiwan? It’s a slang used to describe a group of people who have studied or worked overseas and have returned to Taiwan with foreign education or work experience. They are often seen as being more Westernized and less in touch with Taiwanese culture and values. The term “Hǎi Guī” itself means “sea turtle,” which is a homophone for the term “returned overseas Chinese” (海歸归, Hǎi Guī), adding to the connotation of being disconnected from Taiwan.

她tā到底dàodǐ是shì位wèi新人xīnrén， 你nǐ就jiù多duō幫幫bāngbāng她tā吧ba！ 她tā到底dàodǐ是shì位wèi新人xīnrén， 你nǐ就jiù多duō帮帮bāngbāng她tā吧ba！
She is just a newbie, you should help her as much as possible.

🟰她tā怎麼說zěnmeshuō也yě是shì位wèi新人xīnrén， 你nǐ就jiù多duō幫幫bāngbāng她tā吧ba！ 她tā怎么说zěnmeshuō也yě是shì位wèi新人xīnrén， 你nǐ就jiù多duō帮帮bāngbāng她tā吧ba！

他tā到底dàodǐ是shì你nǐ爸爸bàba， 你nǐ應該yīnggāi要yào有yǒu基本jīběn的de禮貌lǐmào他tā到底dàodǐ是shì你nǐ爸爸bàba， 你nǐ应该yīnggāi要yào有yǒu基本jīběn的de礼貌lǐmào
He is your father, after all. You should keep your basic manner.

🟰他tā怎麼說zěnmeshuō也yě是shì你nǐ爸爸bàba， 你nǐ應該yīnggāi要yào有yǒu基本jīběn的de禮貌lǐmào他tā怎么说zěnmeshuō也yě是shì你nǐ爸爸bàba， 你nǐ应该yīnggāi要yào有yǒu基本jīběn的de礼貌lǐmào

我wǒ到底dàodǐ也yě在zài這zhè公司gōngsī工作gōngzuò了le3030年nián， 你nǐ不bù可以kěyǐ就jiù這樣zhèyàng辭退cítuì我wǒ我wǒ到底dàodǐ也yě在zài这zhè公司gōngsī工作gōngzuò了le3030年nián， 你nǐ不bù可以kěyǐ就jiù这样zhèyàng辞退cítuì我wǒ
I have worked in this company for 30 years, you can not just fire me like this!

🟰我wǒ怎麼說zěnmeshuō也yě在zài這zhè公司gōngsī工作gōngzuò了le3030年nián， 你nǐ不bù可以kěyǐ就jiù這樣zhèyàng辭退cítuì我wǒ我wǒ怎么说zěnmeshuō也yě在zài这zhè公司gōngsī工作gōngzuò了le3030年nián， 你nǐ不bù可以kěyǐ就jiù这样zhèyàng辞退cítuì我wǒ

• “Finally” in Chinese 1 – 終於 zhōngyú (HSK 3)

• I wonder 究竟 jiùjìng (HSK 4)

• “Finally” in Chinese – 總总算 zǒngsuàn (HSK 5)