只好

• 拼音: zhǐ hǎo
• 汉字拆解: 只 = 口 (mouth) + 八 (eight); 好 = 女 (woman) + 子 (child)

含义

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.

例句

1. 公共汽车没有了，我们只好打车回家。
2. 饭店关门了，我只好自己做饭。
3. 雨一直下，他只好待在家里。

用法指南

语境: everyday, narrative

语气: reluctant

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal