只好 · 白
只好: have no choice but to · 白: for nothing, in vain
Structure
主语 + 只好 + 动词 · 主语 + 白 + 动词 + 了
What it means
只好 means “have no choice but to”: the other options are gone, so you do this one. 白 before a verb means “for nothing, in vain”: you did it but got nothing out of it.
How it is built
Subject + 只好 + verb: 没有车了，我们只好走回家 (no more buses, so we had to walk home). Subject + 白 + verb + 了: 商店关门了，我们白去了 (the shop was shut: we went for nothing).
When to use it
只好 usually follows a reason and goes after the subject. 白 is everyday and common with 去, 等, 跑, 着急: 你白着急了 (you panicked for nothing). It is the 白 of 白色 “white”, but before a verb it means “for nothing”.
Watch out
Don’t mix up 只好 with 最好 “had better”: 你最好早点儿走 is advice; 我只好早点儿走 is a forced choice.
Examples
没有车了，我们只好走回家。
There were no more buses, so we had to walk home.
商店关门了，我们白去了。
The shop was closed: we went for nothing.
手机里的钱没少，你白着急了。
None of the money’s gone; you panicked for nothing.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 7: 手机被人拿走了 (A stolen phone)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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