到底

dàodǐ

adverb HSK 4 #350

Meanings

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

HSK 1

他到底是谁？

Tā dàodǐ shì shéi?

Who on earth is he?

HSK 5

你到底要不要去？

Nǐ dàodǐ yàobu yào qù?

Are you going or not?

HSK 5

坚持到底就是胜利。

Jiānchí dàodǐ jiùshì 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