X也得X，不X也得X / 说什么也得X: you have to, like it or not
【四71】口语格式 / fixed patterns
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
V也得V，不V也得V says something is unavoidable whether you like it or not: 去也得去，不去也得去 (“whether you're keen or not, you're going”). The verb is repeated four times, with 也得 twice. Spoken, firm and a bit teasing.
Its cousin 说什么(也)得 + V (or 怎么也得 + V) means “whatever is said, it has to be done”: 今天说什么也得我请 (“I'm paying today, whatever you say”). 怎么也得 often means “at the very least”: 你怎么也得吃点东西. Here 也得 is followed by the verb, never by 不.
Compare 必须 (neutral and serious), 非……不可 (stronger, an absolute need) and 无论……都 (conditions, not obligation).
Examples
这件事很重要，你做也得做，不做也得做。
Zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào, nǐ zuò yě děi zuò, bú zuò yě děi zuò.This matter is important: you have to do it, like it or not.
医生说了，药你吃也得吃，不吃也得吃。
Yīshēng shuō le, yào nǐ chī yě děi chī, bù chī yě děi chī.The doctor has spoken: you take this medicine, whether you want to or not.
明天的会，你去也得去，不去也得去。
Míngtiān de huì, nǐ qù yě děi qù, bú qù yě děi qù.Tomorrow's meeting: you're going, like it or not.
今天说什么也得我请客。
Jīntiān shuō shénme yě děi wǒ qǐngkè.Today I'm treating you, whatever you say.
时间太晚了，说什么也得回家了。
Shíjiān tài wǎn le, shuō shénme yě děi huí jiā le.It's too late: whatever anyone says, we have to go home.
这么重要的活动，你怎么也得来一下。
Zhème zhòngyào de huódòng, nǐ zěnme yě děi lái yíxià.It's such an important event that you have to show up, at the very least.
Common mistakes
✗ 去也得去，不去得去 → ✓ 去也得去，不去也得去 (也 in both halves).
✗ 说什么也不得去 → ✓ 说什么也得去 / 说什么也不去 (don't mix 不 and 得).