TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
竟
竟 ＝ 音 ＋ 儿
ㄐㄧㄥˋ · jìng
adv — in the end, actually, unexpectedly; verb — to finish
字源 FORM — what the parts do
儿義a person, at the bottom
A tune (音) and a standing figure (儿) below it — the music plays through to its last note, the piece is done. From "played to the end" comes 究竟 and 畢竟; the surprise at what turns up at the end gives 竟然.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
最後一個音（音）落下，人（儿）還站著——整首曲子，到此為止。
The last note (音) falls, the figure (儿) still standing — the whole piece, ended right here.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)樂曲終了— the end of a tune
→究竟、畢竟— in the end, after all常用
⇒竟然、竟— unexpectedly — what turns up at the end
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension