Expressing "since" with "jiran"

既然 (jìrán) means "since," and is often followed by 就 to mean "since...then...." It is used like this:

既然 followed by an affirmative sentence

This construction is not generally used to express a result, but more of a suggestion or inference deduced from the first fact. It can be placed before or after the subject. But if the subjects in the two clauses are the same, 既然 is more often put after the subject.

Structure

既然＋Fact, 那 / 就 / 那就＋Suggestion / Inference

Examples

• 你 既然 不 想 说，那就 别 说 了。a suggestionNǐ jìrán bùxiǎng shuō, nà jiù bié shuō le.Since you don't want to speak, just don't say it.
• 既然 你 那么 喜欢，那就 买 吧。 a suggestionJìrán nǐ nàme xǐhuān, nà jiù mǎi ba.Since you like it so much, buy it then.
• 她 既然 刚刚 分手，那 现在 应该 是 单身 吧。 an inferenceTā jìrán gānggāng fēnshǒu, nà xiànzài yīnggāi shì dānshēn ba.Since she just had a breakup, she should be single now.
• 既然 你们 是 好 朋友，那 他 肯定 会 帮 你 吧。an inferenceJìrán nǐmen shì hǎo péngyǒu, nà tā kěndìng huì bāng nǐ ba.Since you guys are good friends, he will definitely help you.
• 既然 大家 都 不 感 兴趣，就 换 个 话题 吧。a suggestionJìrán dàjiā dōu bùgǎn xìngqù, jiù huàngè huàtí ba.Since nobody is interested, let's change the topic.

既然 followed by a question

The suggestion or inference deduced from the first fact can come in the form of rhetorical question. In this case, “那” can be omitted.

Structure

既然 + Fact, （那 +）rhetorical question

Examples

• 你 既然 不 喜欢 他，为什么 还 想 跟 他 出去？a suggestionNǐ jìrán bù xǐhuān tā, wèishéme hái xiǎng gēn tā chūqù?Since you don't like him, why do you want to go out with him?
• 既然 你 已经 决定 了，为什么 现在 后悔？a suggestionJìrán nǐ yǐjīng juédìng le, wèishéme xiànzài hòuhuǐ?Since you've made your decision, don't regret it then.
• 既然 他 那么 忙，你 为什么 还 去 打扰 他？a suggestionJìrán tā nàme máng, nǐ wèishéme hái qù dǎrǎo tā?Since he's so busy, why would you bother him?
• 既然 已经 分手 了，为什么 还 要 见面？a suggestionJìrán yǐjīng fēnshǒu le, wèishéme hái yào jiànmiàn?Since we broke up, why would we still see each other?
• 既然 你 男朋友 那么 有 钱，那 他 为什么 不 能 大方 一点？a suggestionJìrán nǐ nán péngyǒu nàme yǒu qián, nà tā wèishéme bùnéng dàfāng yīdiǎn?Since your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?

See also

• Cause and Effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"
• Because" with "er" Indicating Effect
• Expressing "Even if…" with "jishi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 47) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 267-9) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 289-90) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 179) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 245) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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