到底 (dàodǐ) – on earth (in questions); finally, in the end

Pattern

• Subject + 到底 + 疑问代词 / A不A / A还是B？
• 经过 + ……，Subject + 到底 + Verb phrase + 了

Usage

• (1) In questions: pressing for the truth, often impatiently (你到底想说什么？); (2) In statements: after many setbacks, something is finally achieved (到底解决了).

Examples

1. 1

   你到底想说什么？请直接告诉我吧。

   Nǐ dàodǐ xiǎng shuō shénme? Qǐng zhíjiē gàosu wǒ ba.

   What on earth are you trying to say? Just tell me straight.

2. 2

   经过大家的努力，这个问题到底解决了。

   Jīngguò dàjiā de nǔlì, zhège wèntí dàodǐ jiějué le.

   Thanks to everyone's efforts, the problem was finally solved.