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?Zhè gè rén jiùjìng shì shéi?Who on earth is this guy?
  • 究竟 是 做 什么 的?jiùjìng shì zuò shénme de?What exactly do you do?
  • 他们 究竟 什么 时候 到?Tāmen jiùjìng shénme shíhòu dào?When exactly are they arriving?
  • 我们 究竟 还 要 等 多久?Wǒmen jiùjìng hái yào děng duōjiǔ?How much longer do we still need to wait?
  • 你们 究竟 想 让 我 怎么 做?Nǐmen jiùjìng xiǎng ràng wǒ zěnme zuò?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

  • 究竟 来 不 来?jiùjìng lái bù lái?Are you coming or not?
  • 你们 究竟 能 不 能 帮 我?Nǐmen jiùjìng néng bùnéng bāng wǒ?Can you guys help me or not?
  • 究竟 是 不 是 你 女朋友?jiùjìng shì bùshì nǐ nǚ péngyǒu?So, is she your girlfriend or not?
  • 究竟 喜 不 喜欢 我?jiùjìng xǐ bù xǐhuān wǒ?So, do you like me or not?
  • 经理 究竟 同 不 同意?Jīnglǐ jiùjìng tóng bù tóngyì?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。Háizi jiùjìng shì háizi, zǒng shì xiǎngzhe zěnme wán.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。Shànghǎi jiùjìng shì Shànghǎi, shēnghuó chéngběn jiùshì gāo.Shanghai is Shanghai after all. The living expense here is high.
  • 年轻 人 究竟 是 年轻 人,精力 真 好。Niánqīng rén jiùjìng shì niánqīng rén, jīnglì zhēn hǎo.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 。Shēngyì rén jiùjìng shì shēngyì rén, duì tāmen lái shuō, zhuànqián shì zuì zhòngyào de.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。Jiārén jiùjìng shì jiārén, yěxǔ nǐ bù xǐhuān tāmen, dàn nǐ háishì huì ài tāmen.Family are family after all. You may not like them, but you will still love them.


See Also

Sources and further reading

Books