只好

zhǐhǎo

adverb HSK 3 #3,535

Meanings

Literally 'only good to' — implying you have no better option.

没有公交车，我只好走路。

Méiyǒu gōngjiāochē, wǒ zhǐhǎo zǒulù.

There are no buses, so I have no choice but to walk.

他不来，我们只好自己做。

Tā bù lái, wǒmen zhǐhǎo zìjǐ zuò.

He's not coming, so we have no choice but to do it ourselves.

票卖完了，只好下次再看。

Piào mài wán le, zhǐhǎo xiàcì zài kàn.

The tickets are sold out; we'll have to watch it next time.

grammar

只好 always implies reluctance — you're doing something because there's no better alternative. The pattern is: [reason/problem], 只好 [reluctant action].

只 zhǐ

好 hǎo