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究竟 (jiū jìng) — (used in questions to emphasize a direct inquiry) actually, exactly; (used in statements to emphasize a final conclusion) after all, in the end; (noun, usually in the pattern 的) the ins and outs, the whole story

Definition

究竟 does two jobs: in questions it pushes for a direct answer like 到底 ('Where exactly…?'); in statements it means 'after all, in the end' — softer and more reflective than 终于, which marks the moment something finally happens.

(used in questions to emphasize a direct inquiry) actuallyexactly(used in statements to emphasize a final conclusion) after allin the end(noun, usually in the pattern 的) the ins and outsthe whole story

Examples

  • 究竟？
    Nǐ jiū jìng shì nǎ lǐ rén?
    Where exactly are you from?
  • ，究竟。
    Suī rán tiān qì bù hǎo, dàn jiū jìng tā hái shì lái le.
    Although the weather was bad, he came after all.
  • 究竟。
    Wǒ bù qīng chǔ shì qing de jiū jìng.
    I'm not clear about the ins and outs of the matter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

究jiūexamine
竟jìngend

究 means to examine, and 竟 gives the idea of reaching the end, so together they mean the final fact.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ究jiū
Same sound today

究 pairs 穴, a cave, with 九, which gives the sound.

Open 究 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin is uncertain, but one old reading sees 竟 as 音 (sound) with 儿 (a person), meaning a person has spoken.

Open 竟 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 42000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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