说什么也得 — “no matter what, must …”
Pattern: 说什么/怎么也得 + V
说什么也得 (or 怎么也得) expresses firm determination or necessity: 这次考试我说什么也得通过 “I have to pass this exam no matter what”. Here 得 is děi, “must”. It is spoken.
Examples
| 1 | 这次考试我说什么也得通过。 zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ shuō shénme yě děi tōngguò I have to pass this exam no matter what. |
| 2 | 你来北京了，说什么也得去看看长城。 nǐ lái Běijīng le shuō shénme yě děi qù kànkan Chángchéng Now that you’re in Beijing, you must see the Great Wall. |
| 3 | 他生日，我怎么也得去。 tā shēngrì wǒ zěnme yě děi qù It’s his birthday — I have to go, whatever happens. |
A common mistake
- ✕ Wrong:
这次考试我说什么也通过。→ ✓ Right: 这次考试我说什么也得通过。
Explanations and examples by Zitou. Pinyin added automatically and checked.