只好

• Pinyin: zhǐ hǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 只 = 口 (mouth) + 八 (eight); 好 = 女 (woman) + 子 (child)

Meaning

Have no choice but to; can only. Expresses that due to circumstances, one is forced to take a particular action.

Used to express reluctant acceptance of a situation where no better alternative exists. Implies that the speaker would have preferred a different outcome but had no choice. Often follows a clause describing the unfavourable circumstance. Different from 只能, which is more neutral; 只好 carries a stronger sense of reluctance or helplessness.

Examples

1. 公共汽车没有了，我们只好打车回家。 The bus was gone, so we had no choice but to take a taxi home.
2. 饭店关门了，我只好自己做饭。 The restaurant was closed, so I had to cook by myself.
3. 雨一直下，他只好待在家里。 It kept raining, so he had no choice but to stay at home.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, narrative

Tone: reluctant

Do Say

• 票卖完了，我们只好改天再看。(The tickets were sold out, so we had no choice but to watch another day.)
• 他不在，我只好留了一张纸条。(He wasn't there, so I had to leave a note.)

Don't Say

• 我只好去旅游了。(Don't use 只好 for positive choices you're happy about — it implies reluctance; say 决定 or 打算 instead)

Origin & History

只 (only) + 好 (good, fine). Literally 'can only well,' meaning the only acceptable option left is to do something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal