到底

dàodǐ

adverb HSK 3 #350

Meanings

Literally 'reach the bottom' — getting to the very end of a matter.

Nǐ dàodǐ yào bu yào qù?

Are you going or not?

Tā dàodǐ shì shéi?

Who on earth is he?

Shìqing dàodǐ zěnmeyàng le?

What on earth happened?

Jiānchí dàodǐ jiù shì shènglì.

Persevering to the end is victory.

grammar

到底 has two main uses: (1) in questions to express impatience or urgency ('on earth'), (2) as 'in the end' meaning to persist to the finish.

mistakes

Don't confuse 到底 (emphasis in questions) with 终于 (finally, for something you waited for). 到底 expresses frustration; 终于 expresses relief.

到 dào

底 dǐ