Correct
只得 vs 只好
/ zhǐdé vs zhǐhǎo /
Strokes
Definition
只得 and 只好 both are Adverbs, which means [be obliged to; have to].
Example
只得 and 只好 both mean "to be obliged to because there is no other choice". The two are usually interchangeable, and 只得 is more emphatic.
1
Zhè
这
jī
几
tiān
天
wǒ
我
hěn
很
máng
忙
,
cānguān
参观
de
的
shì
事
zhǐhǎo
只好
(
zhǐdé
只得
)
yǐhòu
以后
zàishuō
再说
。
I have been busy these days, so the visiting had to be put off later.
2
Wǒ
我
xiǎng
想
kuài
快
diǎnr
点儿
tōngzhī
通知
tā
他
,
kě
可
tājiā
他家
méiyǒu
没有
diànhuà
电话
,
wǒ
我
zhǐhǎo
只好
(
zhǐdé
只得
)
fà
发
le
了
yī
一
fēng
封
diànbào
电报
。
I'd like to tell him as soon as possible; however, he had no telephone,and I had to send a telegraph to him.
3
Xiǎozhāng
小张
de
的
qīzǐ
妻子
zhùyuàn
住院
le
了
,
tā
他
zhǐhǎo
只好
(
zhǐdé
只得
)
yī
一
gè
个
rén
人
dài
带
háizi
孩子
。
Xiao Zhang had no choice but to look after his child by himself for his wife was in hospital.
4
Biéren
别人
dōu
都
zǒu
走
bù
不
kāi
开
,
zhǐhǎo
只好
wǒ
我
yī
一
gè
个
rén
人
qù
去
。
I had to go by myself for the others were busy.
只好 can be placed either before or after the subject, while 只得 is usually used after the subject.
5
Wǒ
我
zhǐdé
只得
(
zhǐhǎo
只好
)
yī
一
gè
个
rén
人
qù
去
。
I had to go alone.