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HSK 5Grammar

Obligation: 不得不 and 非…不可

When you have no choice

不得不: to be obliged to

不得不 (bùdébù) means "cannot not" : a double negation that expresses the constraint endured, reluctantly.

Subject + 不得不 + Verb
It's too late, I have to go home.

非…不可: absolutely indispensable

非 (fēi) + action + 不可 (bùkě) : "it is absolutely necessary", with a nuance of determination or unavoidable necessity.

非 + Verb + 不可
This matter, you absolutely must do it.
He is seriously ill, he absolutely must go to the hospital.

All grammar lessons · HSK 5 vocabulary · Graded readings

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