dou3 dai2到底

Jyutpingdou3 dai2

Yaledou dái

副詞Very common

Definition

To the end; until the very last moment.

colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on the persistence or the final outcome of an action, often implying a sense of stubbornness or unwavering commitment. It is frequently used in contexts involving conflict, competition, or long-term tasks where one refuses to give up. Unlike the Mandarin usage of 到底 as a question marker for 'what on earth', the Cantonese usage here is strictly about reaching the conclusion or the limit of a situation.

Examples

le1呢coeng4場bo1波jat1一ding6定jiu3要zaang6撐dou3到dai2底。

We must support this team until the very end.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪soeng2想tung4同ngo5我dau3鬥dou3到dai2底aa4呀？

Are you trying to fight me to the bitter end?

Common phrases

zaang6撐dou3到dai2底

to persevere to the end

dau3鬥dou3到dai2底

to fight to the end

Common mistake

Avoid using this to mean 'what on earth' as in Mandarin questions like 你到底想點, as that usage is considered a Mandarin loan and is less authentic in traditional Cantonese speech.