只好 / 只得【zhǐhǎo / zhǐdé】

只好 says there was no other choice, so you settle for this one. It goes before the verb, after the subject, and it almost always follows a clause that gives the reason.

It often carries a sigh: this isn't what you wanted, but it's what's left.

只得 means the same and is written, at home in reports and news.

不得不 is close. It stresses being forced from outside; 只好 stresses that the other options have run out.

Where it goes wrong

只好 is about choice. For "only" with a number or a thing, use 只.

• × 我只好有一本书 → 我只有一本书

It doesn't give advice either. "You'd better" is 最好.

• × 你只好早点睡 → 你最好早点睡