“After all” in Chinese – 毕竟 bìjìng

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 畢毕竟 bìjìng is commonly used to emphasize a fact or reason, often suggesting that something is understandable or inevitable because of certain circumstances. It can be translated into English as “after all,” “in the end,” or “as expected.” It is used both in spoken and written Chinese.

Structure

畢毕竟 bìjìng + Fact + Conclusion
Conclusion + 畢毕竟 bìjìng + Fact

To express a conclusion or justification based on prior facts:

畢竟bìjìng他tā是shì老師lǎoshī， 知道zhīdào的de當然dāngrán比bǐ我們wǒmen多duō毕竟bìjìng他tā是shì老师lǎoshī， 知道zhīdào的de当然dāngrán比bǐ我们wǒmen多duō
After all, he is a teacher, so of course he knows more than us.

這zhè本běn書shū畢竟bìjìng是shì暢銷書chàngxiāoshū， 內容nèiróng一定yídìng不bù差chā这zhè本běn书shū毕竟bìjìng是shì畅销书chàngxiāoshū， 内容nèiróng一定yídìng不bú差chà
After all, this is a bestseller, so the content must be good.

畢竟bìjìng你nǐ是shì新人xīnrén， 做zuò錯cuò一些yìxiē事情shìqíng也yě很hěn正常zhèngcháng毕竟bìjìng你nǐ是shì新人xīnrén， 做zuò错cuò一些yìxiē事情shìqing也yě很hěn正常zhèngcháng
After all, you’re new, making mistakes is normal.

這zhè家jiā店diàn的de價格jiàgé有點yǒudiǎn貴guì， 畢竟bìjìng是shì名牌míngpái的de東西dōngxī这zhè家jiā店diàn的de价格jiàgé有点儿yǒudiǎnr贵guì， 毕竟bìjìng是shì名牌míngpái的de东西dōngxi
The prices at this store are a bit high, after all, it’s brand-name stuff.

畢毕竟 bìjìng + Condition + what you should do

To emphasize something that is obvious or clear because of a certain condition:

我們wǒmen畢竟bìjìng是shì朋友péngyǒu， 應該yīnggāi互相hùxiāng幫助bāngzhù我们wǒmen毕竟bìjìng是shì朋友péngyou， 应该yīnggāi互相hùxiāng帮助bāngzhù
We are friends after all, we should help each other.

畢竟bìjìng我wǒ已經yǐjīng學習xuéxí中文zhōngwén這麼zhème久jiǔ了le，不能bùnéng再zài輕易qīngyì放棄fàngqì毕竟bìjìng我wǒ已经yǐjīng学习xuéxí中文zhōngwén这么zhème久jiǔ了le， 不能bùnéng再zài轻易qīngyì放弃fàngqì
After all, I’ve been studying Chinese for so long, I can’t give up so easily.

他tā畢竟bìjìng是shì成年人chéngniánrén， 應該yīnggāi能néng為wèi自己zìjǐ的de行為xíngwéi負責fùzé他tā毕竟bìjìng是shì成年人chéngniánrén， 应该yīnggāi能néng为wèi自己zìjǐ的de行为xíngwéi负责fùzé
After all, he’s an adult, so he should be responsible for his actions.

畢竟bìjìng你nǐ是shì我wǒ的de學生xuéshēng， 我wǒ當然dāngrán會huì站zhàn在zài你nǐ這zhè一邊yìbiān毕竟bìjìng你nǐ是shì我wǒ的de学生xuésheng， 我wǒ当然dāngrán会huì站zhàn在zài你nǐ这zhè一边yìbiān
After all, you’re my student, so I will definitely stand by you.

Common Combination

雖虽然 suīrán…，但 dàn…，畢毕竟 bìjìng…

This structure often implies an idea that the situation is understandable or reasonable, even though there may have been challenges or contradictions.

雖然suīrán他tā很hěn年輕niánqīng， 但dàn他tā很hěn有yǒu經驗jīngyàn， 畢竟bìjìng他tā已經yǐjīng工作gōngzuò了le五年wǔnián了le虽然suīrán他tā很hěn年轻niánqīng， 但dàn他tā很hěn有yǒu经验jīngyàn， 毕竟bìjìng他tā已经yǐjīng工作gōngzuò了le五年wǔnián了le
Although he’s very young, he has a lot of experience, after all, he’s been working for five years.
* Despite his young age (contrast), the truth is that his experience is significant because he’s been working for a long time (inevitable fact).

雖然suīrán你nǐ很hěn忙máng，，但dàn你nǐ畢竟bìjìng是shì我wǒ的de朋友péngyǒu， 應該yīnggāi幫bāng我wǒ虽然suīrán你nǐ很hěn忙máng， 但dàn你nǐ毕竟bìjìng是shì我wǒ的de朋友péngyou，，应该yīnggāi帮bāng我wǒ
Although you’re very busy, you are my friend, after all, you should help me.
* Even though you’re busy (contrast), the reality is that as my friend (inevitable reason), you should help.

FYI
The sentence above is a perfect example of what we call 情勒 qínglēlè. It’s a colloquial term in Chinese that combines 情 (emotion, affection) with 勒 (to force or constrain). Essentially, 情勒 qínglēlè refers to a situation where someone emotionally manipulates or pressures another person, usually in relationships, by making them feel guilty or obligated to do something. It’s a form of emotional blackmail, where one person uses their feelings or affection to manipulate the other into complying with their wishes.

雖然suīrán他tā剛剛gānggāng搬bān到dào這zhè座zuò城市chéngshì， 但dàn他tā畢竟bìjìng學xué過guò中文zhōngwén， 應該yīnggāi能néng很hěn快kuài適應shìyìng虽然suīrán他tā刚刚gānggāng搬bān到dào这zhè座zuò城市chéngshì， 但dàn他tā毕竟bìjìng学xué过guò中文zhōngwén， 应该yīnggāi能néng很hěn快kuài适应shìyìng
Although he just moved to this city, he has learned Chinese, after all, he will adapt quickly.
* Despite being new to the city (contrast), the fact that he knows Chinese (inevitable reason) will help him adapt quickly.

雖然suīrán你nǐ做zuò得de很hěn好hǎo， 但dàn我wǒ畢竟bìjìng是shì老闆lǎobǎn， 我wǒ可以kěyǐ決定juédìng最終zuìzhōng的de結果jiéguǒ虽然suīrán你nǐ做zuò得de很hěn好hǎo， 但dàn我wǒ毕竟bìjìng是shì老板lǎobǎn， 我wǒ可以kěyǐ决定juédìng最终zuìzhōng的de结果jiéguǒ
Although you did really well, I’m the boss, after all, I can make the final decision.

雖然suīrán我wǒ很hěn不bù喜歡xǐhuān你nǐ， 但dàn你nǐ畢竟bìjìng付fù了le我wǒ不少bùshǎo學費xuéfèi， 我wǒ只好zhǐhǎo每次měicì上課shàngkè都dōu說shuō我wǒ最zuì愛ài你nǐ虽然suīrán我wǒ很hěn不bù喜欢xǐhuan你nǐ， 但dàn你nǐ毕竟bìjìng付fù了le我wǒ不少bùshǎo学费xuéfèi， 我wǒ只好zhǐhǎo每次měicì上课shàngkè都dōu说shuō我wǒ最zuì爱ài你nǐ 🤪
Although I really don’t like you, after all you’ve paid me a lot of tuition, so I have no choice but to say you’re my favorite student.

雖然suīrán我wǒ沒méi真的zhēnde學xué過guò中文zhōngwén， 但dàn畢竟bìjìng我wǒ跟gēn中國Zhōngguó女朋友nǚpéngyǒu在一起zàiyìqǐ10 年nián了le， 我wǒ還是háishì知道zhīdào不少bùshǎo中文zhōngwén虽然suīrán我wǒ没méi真的zhēnde学xué过guò中文zhōngwén， 但dàn毕竟bìjìng我wǒ跟gēn中国Zhōngguó女朋友nǚpéngyǒu在一起zàiyìqǐ10 年nián了le， 我wǒ还是háishì知道zhīdào不少bùshǎo中文zhōngwén
Although I haven’t really studied Chinese, after all, I’ve been with my Chinese girlfriend for 10 years, so I still know quite a bit of Chinese.

雖然suīrán喝hē珍奶zhēnnǎi會huì胖pàng， 但dàn我wǒ畢竟bìjìng運動yùndòng了le3 個ge小時xiǎoshí， 喝hē一yì杯bēi不會búhuì怎麼樣zěnmeyàng吧ba虽然suīrán喝hē珍奶zhēnnǎi会huì胖pàng， 但dàn我wǒ毕竟bìjìng运动yùndòng了le3 个ge小时xiǎoshí， 喝hē一yì杯bēi不会búhuì怎么样zěnmeyàng吧ba
Although drinking bubble tea can make you gain weight, after all, I exercised for 3 hours, so drinking one cup shouldn’t be a big deal, right?