Expressing "in the end" with "jiujing"

When someone asks you "what on earth are you doing?," "究竟 (jiūjìng)" is used by the speaker to intensify the question. In this case, 究竟 is similar to 到底.

Note that 究竟 is more formal than 到底.

Using 究竟 in a question

Using 究竟 in a special question

Structure

究竟 + Question Word

Examples

• 这 个 人 究竟 是 谁？Who on earth is this guy?
• 你 究竟 是 做 什么 的？What exactly do you do?
• 他们 究竟 什么 时候 到？When exactly are they arriving?
• 我们 究竟 还 要 等 多久？How much longer do we still need to wait?
• 你们 究竟 想 让 我 怎么 做？What on earth do you want me to do?

Using 究竟 in a yes / no question

Structure

究竟＋Verb＋没 / 不＋Verb

Examples

• 你 究竟 来 不 来？Are you coming or not?
• 你们 究竟 能 不 能 帮 我？Can you guys help me or not?
• 她 究竟 是 不 是 你 女朋友？So, is she your girlfriend or not?
• 你 究竟 喜 不 喜欢 我？So, do you like me or not?
• 经理 究竟 同 不 同意？Does the manager agree or not?

Using 究竟 in an affirmative sentence

究竟 can be used with 是 for an emphasis on a fact, which is similar to 毕竟, meaning "after all."

Structure

A＋究竟 + 是＋ A，……

Examples

• 孩子 究竟 是 孩子，总是 想 着 怎么 玩。Kids are kids after all. They always think about how to have fun.
• 上海 究竟 是 上海，生活 成本 就 是 高。Shanghai is Shanghai after all. The living expense here is high.
• 年轻 人 究竟 是 年轻 人，精力 真 好。Young people are young people after all. Their are so energetic.
• 生意 人 究竟 是 生意 人，对 他们 来说，赚钱 是 最 重要 的 。Businessman is businessman after all. The most important thing to them is making money.
• 家人 究竟 是 家人，也许 你 不 喜欢 他们，但 你 还是 会 爱 他们。Family are family after all. You may not like them, but you will still love them.

See Also

• Expressing "After All" with "bijing"
• Expressing "In the End" with "daodi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 130-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 19-20) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy