{{Grammar Box}} 

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 [[Expressing "In the End" with "daodi"|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 ====

<div class="jiegou">

究竟 + Question Word

</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">   

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

</div>

=== Using 究竟 in a yes / no question ===

==== Structure ====

<div class="jiegou">

究竟＋Verb＋没 / 不＋Verb

</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">   

*你 <em>究竟</em> 来 不 来？<span class="trans">Are you coming or not?</span>
*你们 <em>究竟</em>  能 不 能 帮 我？<span class="trans">Can you guys help me or not?</span>
*她 <em>究竟</em> 是 不 是 你 女朋友？<span class="trans">So, is she your girlfriend or not?</span>
*你 <em>究竟</em> 喜 不 喜欢 我？<span class="trans">So, do you like me or not?</span>
*经理 <em>究竟</em> 同 不 同意？<span class="trans">Does the manager agree or not?</span>

</div>

== Using 究竟 in an affirmative sentence ==

究竟 can be used with 是 for an emphasis on a fact, which is similar to  [[Expressing "after all" with "bijing"|毕竟]], meaning "after all." 
 
=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">

A＋究竟 + 是＋ A，……

</div>

=== Examples === 

<div class="liju">   

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


</div>

==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) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) ]] (pp.19-20) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy] 

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|究竟|B2|究竟|你 <em>究竟</em> 喜 不 喜欢 我？|grammar point|ASGDK0BR}}
{{Similar|Expressing "After All" with "bijing"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "In the End" with "daodi"}}
{{POS|Adverbs}}