毕竟 (bìjìng) can be used to emphasize a reason or characteristic, and is like "after all" where you might say, "he is after all, only a child." 毕竟 is used both in spoken and written Chinese.
In it's most basic form, you just need to add the "after all" stuff after the 毕竟, and it could be a reason or a characteristic.
Structure
毕竟 + Reason / Characteristic
Examples
- 他 毕竟 是 孩子，你 就 别 打 他 了。After all, he's only a kid. Don't hit him.
- 毕竟 是 冬天，你 还是 多 穿 点 吧。It's winter after all. You'd better wear more clothes.
- 他 不知道 也 很 正常，毕竟 他 不 是 本地 人。It is normal that he doesn't know. After all, he is not a local.
- 有的 玩笑 不能 再 开 了，毕竟 他们 都 是 大孩子 了。 Some jokes shouldn't be said again. After all, they are all grown up.
- 对 我们 来说，搬家 是 个 很难 的 决定，毕竟 我们 已经 在 这儿 生活 了 好几 年。For us, moving is a difficult decision, after all, we've lived here for a few years.
Structure
虽然 ⋯⋯ ， 但 + 毕竟 ⋯⋯ ， (As a Result)， ⋯⋯
In this structure, the parts after 虽然 and 毕竟 are reasons or characteristics, and the part after (as a result) is a result or conclusion. It's a bit more complex, so pay attention to the different parts in the example sentences below.
Examples
- 虽然 他 做 错 了，但 毕竟 他 还是 小，你 就 别 打 他 了。Although he did something wrong, he is, after all, so young. So don't hit him.
- 虽然 我 穿 了 不 少 衣服，但 毕竟 是 北方 的 冬天，所以 我 还是 觉得 挺 冷 的。Although I wear a lot of clothes , it is, after all, winter in the north. I still feel very cold.
- 虽然 我 跟 他 认识，但 毕竟 不 太 熟，还是 不要 去 麻烦 人家 了。Although I know him, after all we are not close. I'd better not trouble him.
- 虽然 我 小时候 奶奶 对 我 不 好，但 毕竟 她 是 我 奶奶，所以 我 还是 会 照顾 她。Although my grandma didn't treat me well, but after all, she is my grandma, so I still look after her.
- 虽然 你们 已经 离婚 了，但 毕竟 还有 一个 孩子，跟 孩子 在 一起 的 时候 别 吵架。Although you are divorced, there is, after all, a child. So don't start fighting when you're with the child.
Sources and further reading
Books
Category: B2 grammar points