After All (毕竟)
毕竟
毕竟 means "after all" or "when all is said and done," used to remind the listener of an undeniable fact that should be considered when making a judgment.
Pattern
Statement, 毕竟 + Undeniable Fact/Reason
Explanation
毕竟 is an adverb that introduces a fundamental truth or underlying reason that the speaker believes should not be overlooked. It is used to ground a discussion by pointing back to basic reality. In English, it translates naturally as "after all," "in the end," or "when all is said and done."
毕竟 typically appears before the verb phrase in the second clause of a two-part statement. The first clause presents a situation, opinion, or action, and the 毕竟 clause provides the underlying reason or reality that justifies or explains it. The tone is often one of gentle reminder or reasonable concession.
This adverb is very common in everyday conversation and writing. It helps the speaker sound reasonable and fair by acknowledging an undeniable fact. It is different from 到底, which asks "ultimately" or emphasizes getting to the bottom of something, while 毕竟 states a fact that should be accepted.
Examples
别怪他了，他毕竟还是个孩子。
Bié guài tā le, tā bìjìng háishì ge háizi.
Don't blame him — after all, he is still a child.
虽然贵了点儿，但毕竟质量好。
Suīrán guì le diǎnr, dàn bìjìng zhìliàng hǎo.
It's a bit expensive, but after all the quality is good.
毕竟我们是老朋友了，有事应该互相帮忙。
Bìjìng wǒmen shì lǎo péngyǒu le, yǒu shì yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngmáng.
After all, we are old friends — we should help each other.
你不能要求太高，他毕竟是第一次做。
Nǐ bù néng yāoqiú tài gāo, tā bìjìng shì dì-yī cì zuò.
You can't set your expectations too high — after all, it's his first time.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
毕竟，明天天气怎么样？
Correct
到底明天天气怎么样？
毕竟 states a fact and cannot be used in questions. Use 到底 for emphasis in questions.
Wrong
他毕竟来了。
Correct
他到底来了。/ 他终于来了。
毕竟 introduces an underlying reason, not the final outcome of a waited event. Use 终于 or 到底 for that meaning.
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