Expressing "in the end" with "jiujing"

When someone asks you "what on earth are you doing?", "on earth" is used by the speaker to intensify the question. 究竟 (jiūjìng) can be used in the same way.

Structure

究竟+question

Examples

• 你 究竟 喜 不 喜欢 我？So, do you like me or not?
• 究竟 吃 什么？每天 都 得 想 这个 问题！What on earth do you want to eat? We have this problem every day!
• 这次 欧洲杯 的 冠军究竟 是 哪个 队？广告 之后 就 会 知道！Which team won the European Cup in the end? Find out after these commercials!
• 你 究竟 看 到 我 了 没有？Did you see me or not?!

Note that 究竟 is more formal than 到底.

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) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp.19-20) →buy