Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 毕竟
The word 毕竟 (bìjìng) is used in Chinese to express the idea of “after all” or “all in all.”
It is often used to emphasize the most important or undeniable aspect of a situation, reminding the listener or reader to consider an essential fact or reality.
毕竟 can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE WITH 毕竟
1. 毕竟 at the beginning of a sentence
When placed at the beginning, 毕竟 introduces an undeniable fact to support the statement.
毕竟，他是你的家人。
After all, he is your family.毕竟，这个课题很复杂，需要耐心。
After all, this topic is complex and requires patience.View More Examples:
| 毕竟，这是他的决定。 | Bìjìng, zhè shì tā de juédìng. | After all, this is his decision. |
| 毕竟，她已经努力过了。 | Bìjìng, tā yǐjīng nǔlì guò le. | After all, she has already tried her best. |
2. 毕竟 can be in the middle and directly follows the subject
It highlights a key reason or fact and reinforces the conclusion or reasoning.
我毕竟不是专业摄影师。
After all, I am not a professional photographer.学习很重要，毕竟这是你的未来。
Studying is important; after all, it is your future.View More Examples:
| 他毕竟是我最好的朋友。 | Tā bìjìng shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu. | He is after all, my best friend. |
| 你不能太生气，他毕竟没经验。 | Nǐ bùnéng tài shēngqì, tā bìjìng méi jīngyàn. | You can’t be too angry; after all, he has no experience. |
| 你不能放弃，毕竟你已经走了这么远。 | Nǐ bùnéng fàngqì, bìjìng nǐ yǐjīng zǒu le zhème yuǎn. | You can’t give up; after all, you’ve come this far. |
USAGE NUANCES AND TIPS
- 毕竟 implies a rational conclusion or fact, so it is often used in discussions or arguments to add weight to a point.
- Avoid overusing 毕竟 in casual speech, as it may sound overly formal or repetitive.
你应该理解她，毕竟她刚经历了困难。
You should understand her; after all, she just went through a hard time.这个城市很贵，但毕竟机会很多。
This city is expensive, but after all, there are many opportunities.View More Examples:
| 他做得不好，但毕竟是他的第一次表演。 | Tā zuò de bù hǎo, dàn bìjìng shì tā de dì yī cì biǎoyǎn. | He didn’t perform well, but after all, it was his first performance. |
| 孩子们需要自由，毕竟他们还在成长。 | Háizimen xūyào zìyóu, bìjìng tāmen hái zài chéngzhǎng. | Kids need freedom; after all, they are still growing. |
| 我会支持你的，毕竟我们是一家人。 | Wǒ huì zhīchí nǐ de, bìjìng wǒmen shì yī jiā rén. | I will support you; after all, we are family. |
| 他很聪明，毕竟是班里最优秀的学生。 | Tā hěn cōngmíng, bìjìng shì bān lǐ zuì yōuxiù de xuéshēng. | He is very smart; after all, he is the best student in the class. |
| 我们应该放松一下，毕竟工作了一整天。 | Wǒmen yīnggāi fàngsōng yīxià, bìjìng gōngzuò le yī zhěng tiān. | We should relax a bit; after all, we’ve worked all day. |
| 这个问题很复杂，但毕竟我们有时间解决。 | Zhège wèntí hěn fùzá, dàn bìjìng wǒmen yǒu shíjiān jiějué. | This problem is complicated, but after all, we have time to solve it. |
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS TO 毕竟
Although 毕竟 is unique in emphasizing undeniable truths, several expressions convey similar meanings.
This chapter explores these alternatives, their nuances, and when to use them.
- 到底 (dàodǐ)
- Both 毕竟 and 到底 can highlight core truths or emphasize reasoning.
- 毕竟 is more formal and reflective, used to stress facts.
- 到底 is often used in questions or to press for answers and clarity.
- 终究 (zhōngjiū)
- Like 毕竟, 终究 expresses the idea of in the end or after all.
- 毕竟 focuses on current, undeniable realities.
- 终究 has a forward-looking or inevitable tone.
- 究竟 (jiūjìng)
- 毕竟 emphasizes a fact as a reason or justification.
- 究竟 is primarily used in questions to probe for a definitive answer.
| Expression | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 毕竟 | After all or undeniably, highlighting an established fact or reasoning. | 毕竟他是孩子，不可能明白一切。 bì jìng tā shì hái zǐ ，bù kě néng míng bái yī qiē. After all, he’s a child; he can’t understand everything. |
| 到底 | In the end or exactly, often used in questions or to emphasize persistence. | 你到底想说什么？ nǐ dào dǐ xiǎng shuō shén me ？ What exactly do you want to say? |
| 终究 | In the end or ultimately, indicating an inevitable conclusion. | 他终究会明白我们的苦心。 tā zhōng jiū huì míng bái wǒ men de kǔ xīn 。 He will understand our good intentions in the end. |
| 究竟 | Ultimately or exactly, typically used in questions to seek clarification. | 他究竟为什么迟到？ tā jiū jìng wéi shén me chí dào ？ Why exactly was he late? |
Examples: 毕竟
| 她毕竟是新手，犯错是难免的。 | Tā bìjìng shì xīnshǒu, fàncuò shì nánmiǎn de. | After all, she’s a beginner; mistakes are unavoidable. |
| 这份工作不容易，毕竟需要很高的专业技能。 | Zhè fèn gōngzuò bù róngyì, bìjìng xūyào hěn gāo de zhuānyè jìnéng. | This job isn’t easy; after all, it requires advanced professional skills. |
Examples: 到底
| 你到底想要什么？ | Nǐ dàodǐ xiǎng yào shénme? | What exactly do you want? |
| 他到底什么时候回来？ | Tā dàodǐ shénme shíhòu huílái? | When exactly is he coming back? |
Examples: 终究
| 他终究是个好人，虽然有些固执。 | Tā zhōngjiū shì gè hǎorén, suīrán yǒuxiē gùzhí. | Ultimately, he’s a good person, though he’s a bit stubborn. |
| 不管他怎么解释，终究是他的错。 | Bùguǎn tā zěnme jiěshì, zhōngjiū shì tā de cuò. | No matter how he explains it, it’s ultimately his fault. |
Examples: 究竟
| 究竟是谁把这件事搞砸了？ | Jiūjìng shì shuí bǎ zhè jiàn shì gǎozá le? | Who exactly messed this up? |
| 你究竟明不明白我说的话？ | Nǐ jiūjìng míng bù míngbái wǒ shuō de huà? | Do you understand what I’m saying or not? |
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FAQs
What difference between 毕竟 and 终于?
毕竟 emphasizes reasoning or facts that justify a conclusion, while 终于 is used for events that finally happen after a long wait.
Is 毕竟 used at the beginning of a phrase?
Yes, 毕竟 can be placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, but it is more commonly used in the middle.
Is 毕竟 only used in formal speech?
No, 毕竟 is used in both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in written or formal speech.
Can 毕竟 be used in negative sentences?
Yes, 毕竟 can be used with negation to emphasize why something is not possible or reasonable:
他毕竟不是医生，不能给你开药。
After all, he is not a doctor and cannot prescribe medicine for you.
What is the sentence structure for 毕竟?
毕竟 + reason/fact + conclusion
Subject + 毕竟 + verb/adjective + (reason)
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