究竟 jiùjìng Grammar

Grammar Point:
The adverb 究竟 jiùjìng is very similar to the first function of 到底 dàodǐ. It expresses the speaker’s desire to find out the truth or the actual situation. 究竟 jiùjìng is more formal, while 到底 dàodǐ is more colloquial.

Structure

究竟 jiùjìng + Question Word

This structure is used to express a question that requires an exact or precise answer. Unlike 到底 dàodǐ, it indicates that the speaker is truly wondering.

你nǐ究竟jiūjìng有yǒu多少duōshǎo個ge女朋友nǚpéngyǒu？ 你nǐ究竟jiūjìng有yǒu多少duōshǎo个ge女朋友nǚpéngyou？
Truly, how many girlfriends do you have?

我們wǒmen已經yǐjīng逛guàng這個zhège商場shāngchǎng5 個ge小時xiǎoshí了le， 你nǐ究竟jiūjìng想xiǎng要yào買mǎi什麼shénme？ 我们wǒmen已经yǐjīng逛guàng这个zhège商场shāngchǎng5 个ge小时xiǎoshí了le， 你nǐ究竟jiūjìng想xiǎng要yào买mǎi什么shénme？
We have been shopping in this mall for 5 hours. What do you really want to buy?

如果rúguǒ戰爭zhànzhēng發生fāshēng， 我們wǒmen究竟jiūjìng該gāi如何rúhé保護bǎohù自己zìjǐ？ 如果rúguǒ战争zhànzhēng发生fāshēng， 我们wǒmen究竟jiūjìng该gāi如何rúhé保护bǎohù自己zìjǐ？
If a war breaks out, what on earth should we do to protect ourselves?

我wǒ究竟jiūjìng做zuò錯cuò了le什麼shénme？ 我wǒ究竟jiūjìng做zuò错cuò了le什么shénme？
What exactly did I do wrong?

究竟 jiùjìng + Verb ＋ 不 / 没 ＋ Verb

It introduces a question or a doubt. In this case, it means “what exactly” or “whether”.

你nǐ究竟jiūjìng知zhī不知道bùzhīdào這zhè件事jiànshì的de嚴重性yánzhòngxìng你nǐ究竟jiūjìng知zhī不知道bùzhīdào这zhè件事jiànshì的de严重性yánzhòngxìng
Do you really know how serious of this?

這zhè家jiā店diàn總是zǒngshì關門guānmén， 究竟jiūjìng做zuò不做búzuò生意shēngyì这zhè家jiā店diàn总是zǒngshì关门guānmén， 究竟jiūjìng做zuò不做búzuò生意shēngyì
This store is always closed. I wonder whether it does business or not.

面對miànduì未來wèilái， 你nǐ究竟jiūjìng有yǒu沒有méiyǒu信心xìnxīn？ 面对miànduì未来wèilái， 你nǐ究竟jiūjìng有yǒu没有méiyǒu信心xìnxīn？
When it comes to the future, do you really have confidence?

AI 發展fāzhǎn快速kuàisù， 人類rénlèi究竟jiūjìng會huì不會búhuì有一天yǒuyìtiān被bèiAI 取代qǔdài？ AI 发展fāzhǎn快速kuàisù， 人类rénlèi究竟jiūjìng会huì不会búhuì有一天yǒuyìtiān被bèiAI 取代qǔdài？
With the rapid development of AI, will humans eventually be replaced by AI?

Note: 嗎吗 ma structure did not work with the grammar of 究竟 jiùjìng.

這zhè家jiā店diàn究竟jiūjìng做zuò生意shēngyì嗎ma？ 这zhè家jiā店diàn究竟jiūjìng做zuò生意shēngyì吗ma？ ❌

• Express in the end, finally with 到底 dàodǐ (HSK 3)