Expressing "after all" with "bijing"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
毕竟 (bìjìng) can be used to emphasize a reason or characteristic, and is like "after all" where you might say, "he is, after all, only a child." 毕竟 is used both in spoken and written Chinese.
Contents
Basic Form
In its most basic form, you just need to add the "after all" stuff after the 毕竟, and it could be a reason or a characteristic.
Structure
毕竟 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 别 骂 他 了 ,他 毕竟 是 孩子 。Stop yelling at him. He's only a kid, after all.
- 毕竟 是 冬天 ,你 还是 多 穿 点 吧 。It's winter, after all. You'd better dress more warmly.
- 他 不知道 也 很 正常,毕竟 他 不 是 本地 人。It's not strange that he doesn't know. He's not a local, after all.
- 有的 玩笑 不 能 再 开 了,毕竟 他们 都 是 大 孩子 了 。Some things shouldn't be joked about anymore. After all, they're not little kids anymore.
- 我们 不太 想 搬 ,毕竟 在 这儿 住 了 好 几 年 了 。We don't really want to move. After all, we've lived here for so many years.
Fuller Form
Structure
虽然 ⋯⋯ ,但 + 毕竟 ⋯⋯ ,(as a result) ⋯⋯
In this structure, the parts after 虽然 (suīrán) and 毕竟 are reasons or characteristics, and the part after (as a result) is a result or conclusion. It's a bit more complex, so pay attention to the different parts in the example sentences below.
Examples
- 虽然 他 做错 了,但 毕竟 他 还是 小,你 就 别 打 他 了 。Although he made a mistake, he is, after all, still young. So stop hitting him.
- 虽然 我 穿 了 不 少 衣服,但 毕竟 是 北方 的 冬天,所以 我 还是 觉得 挺 冷 的。Although I'm dressed really warmly, it is, after all, winter in the north. I still feel quite cold.
- 虽然 我 跟 他 认识,但 毕竟 不 太 熟,还是 不要 去 麻烦 人家 了。Although I know him, we're not close, after all. We'd better not bother him.
- 虽然 我 小时候 奶奶 对 我 不 好,但 毕竟 她 是 我 奶奶,所以 我 还是 会 照顾 她。Although my grandma didn't treat me well when I was little, she is my grandma, after all, so I will still take care of her.
- 虽然 你们 已经 离婚 了,但 毕竟 还有 一个 孩子 ,跟 孩子 在 一起 的 时候 别 吵架。Although you are divorced, you still have a child together, after all. So don't fight when you're with the child.
Sources and further reading
Books
- Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 155) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 127-30) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 151-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 92) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 82) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy