竟然
HSK 5- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Adverb 竟然 expresses that something happens contrary to expectation, conveying a sense of surprise or disbelief.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Use the adverb 竟然 (jìngrán) when you want to express surprise or astonishment at something that runs completely contrary to expectation or common sense. It is like exclaiming "And yet…", "How could it be that…", or "Who would have thought…" in English. 竟然 tends to carry a slightly stronger tone than its synonym 居然.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他平时不学习，竟然考了第一名。繁: 他平時不學習，竟然考了第一名。Tā píngshí bù xuéxí, jìngrán kǎo le dì yī míng.
He usually doesn't study, yet he surprisingly got first place on the exam.
- 这么简单的题，你竟然不会做？繁: 這麼簡單的題，你竟然不會做？Zhème jiǎndān de tí, nǐ jìngrán bú huì zuò?
Such a simple question, and you actually don't know how to do it?
- 我最好的朋友竟然骗了我。繁: 我最好的朋友竟然騙了我。Wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou jìngrán piàn le wǒ.
My best friend actually deceived me.
- 外面那么冷，他竟然只穿一件T恤。繁: 外面那麼冷，他竟然只穿一件T恤。Wàimiàn nàme lěng, tā jìngrán zhǐ chuān yí jiàn T-xù.
It's so cold outside, yet he is wearing only a T-shirt.
- 他竟然忘了今天是我的生日。Tā jìngrán wàng le jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì.
He actually forgot that today is my birthday.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他忘了竟然今天是我的生日。Correct:他竟然忘了今天是我的生日。
竟然 is an adverb and must stand directly before the verb (忘了) that it modifies to express surprise about the action.
- Wrong:我每天学习，竟然考得很好。Correct:我每天学习，所以考得很好。
竟然 is only used for unexpected results that contradict expectations; it cannot be used if the result is reasonable and predictable.