Difference between revisions of "Expressing "since" with "jiran""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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既然 (jìrán) means "since", and is often followed by 就 to mean "since...then...." It is used like this:
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既然 (jìrán) means "since," and is often followed by 就 to mean "since...then...." It is used like this:
  
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== 既然 followed by an affirmative sentence ==
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== 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.
 
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.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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既然 ＋ Fact, [那 / 就 / 那就] ＋ Suggestion / Inference
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既然＋Fact, 那 / 就 / 那就＋Suggestion / Inference
 
−
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
The second halves of following sentences are all suggestions or inferences.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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+
*你 <em>既然</em> 不 想 说，<em>那就</em> 别 说 了。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jìrán</em> bù xiǎng shuō, <em>nà jiù</em> bié shuō le.</span><span class="trans">Since you don't want to say, then just don't say.</span>
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*你 <em>既然</em> 不 想 说，<em>那就</em> 别 说 了。<span class="trans">Since you don't want to speak, just don't say it.</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 你 那么 喜欢，<em>那就</em> 买 吧。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐ <em>nàme</em> xǐhuan, nà jiù mǎi ba.</span><span class="trans">Since you like it so much, just buy it.</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 你 那么 喜欢，<em>那就</em> 买 吧。 <span class="trans">Since you like it so much, buy it then.</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
+
*她 <em>既然</em> 刚刚 分手，<em>那</em> 现在 应该 是 单身 吧。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jìrán</em> gānggāng fēnshǒu, <em>nà</em> xiànzài yīnggāi shì dānshēn ba.</span><span class="trans">Since she just had a breakup, she should be single now.</span>
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*她 <em>既然</em> 刚刚 分手，<em>那</em> 现在 应该 是 单身 吧。 <span class="trans">Since she just had a breakup, she should be single now.</span> <span class="expl">an inference)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 你们 是 好 朋友，<em>那</em> 他 肯定 会 帮 你 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, <em>nà</em> tā kěndìng huì bāng nǐ ba.<span class="trans">Since you guys are good friends, he will definitely help you.</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 你们 是 好 朋友，<em>那</em> 他 肯定 会 帮 你 吧。<span class="trans">Since you guys are good friends, he will definitely help you.</span> <span class="expl">an inference)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 大家 都 不 感 兴趣，<em>就</em> 换 个 话题 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> dàjiā dōu bù gǎn xìngqù, <em>jiù</em> huàn gè huàtí ba.</span><span class="trans">Since nobody is interested, let's change the topic.</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 大家 都 不 感 兴趣，<em>就</em> 换 个 话题 吧。<span class="trans">Since nobody is interested, let's change the topic.</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
 
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 既然 followed by a question ==
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== 既然 Followed by a Question ==
  
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The suggestion or inference deduced from the first fact can come in the form of rhetorical question. In this case, “那” can be omitted.
+
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 ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
−
既然 + Fact,   （那 +）rhetorical question
+
既然 + Fact, (那 +) Rhetorical Question
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
The second halves of following sentences are all suggestions.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
−
 
+
*你 <em>既然</em> 不 喜欢 他，为什么 还 想 跟 他 出去？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jìrán</em> bù xǐhuan tā, wèishénme hái xiǎng gēn tā chūqù?</span><span class="trans">Since you don't like him, why would you go out with him?</span>
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*你 <em>既然</em> 不 喜欢 他，为什么 还 想 跟 他 出去？<span class="trans">Since you don't like him, why do you want to go out with him?</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 你 已经 决定 了，为什么 现在 后悔？<span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐ yǐjīng juédìng le, wèishénme xiànzài hòuhuǐ?</span><span class="trans">Since you've already made your decision, why regret it now?</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 你 已经 决定 了，为什么 现在 后悔？<span class="trans">Since you've made your decision, don't regret it then.</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 他 那么 忙，你 为什么 还 去 打扰 他？<span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> tā nàme máng, nǐ wèishénme hái qù dǎrǎo tā?</span><span class="trans">Since he's so busy, why would you go bother him?</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 他 那么 忙，你 为什么 还 去 打扰 他？<span class="trans">Since he's so busy, why would you bother him?</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 已经 分手 了，为什么 还 要 见面？<span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> yǐjīng fēnshǒu le, wèishénme hái yào jiànmiàn?</span><span class="trans">Since we've already broken up, why would we still meet up?</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 已经 分手 了，为什么 还 要 见面？<span class="trans">Since we broke up, why would we still see each other?</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 你 男朋友 那么 有钱，<em>那</em> 他 为什么 不 能 大方 一点？<span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐ nánpéngyou nàme yǒuqián, nà tā wèishénme bù néng dàfang yīdiǎn?</span><span class="trans">Since your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?</span>
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*<em>既然</em> 你 男朋友 那么 有 钱，<em>那</em> 他 为什么 不 能 大方 一点？<span class="trans">Since your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
 
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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* [[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) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
 
−
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 289-90) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
 
−
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 179) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
 
−
*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 245) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
  
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|47}}
 +
{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|267-9}}
 +
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|289-90}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|179}}
 +
{{Source|卓越汉语－公司实战篇|245}}
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
−
{{Basic Grammar|既然|B2|既然⋯⋯，就⋯⋯|<em>既然</em> 来 了 ， <em>就</em> 留 下来 吃 饭 吧 。|grammar point|ASGG4BX9}}
+
{{HSK|HSK4}}
−
{{Rel char|就}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|既然|B2|既然⋯⋯，就⋯⋯|<em>既然</em> 来 了 ， <em>就</em> 留 下来 吃饭 吧 。|grammar point|ASGG4BX9}}
−
{{Rel char|然}}
 
 
{{Similar|Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"}}
 
{{Similar|Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"}}
 
{{Similar|Because" with "er" Indicating Effect}}
 
{{Similar|Because" with "er" Indicating Effect}}

Latest revision as of 07:37, 19 January 2021

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

The second halves of following sentences are all suggestions or inferences.

  • 你 既然 不 想 说，那就 别 说 了。Nǐ jìrán bù xiǎng shuō, nà jiù bié shuō le.Since you don't want to say, then just don't say.
  • 既然 你 那么 喜欢，那就 买 吧。 Jìrán nǐ nàme xǐhuan, nà jiù mǎi ba.Since you like it so much, just buy it.
  • 她 既然 刚刚 分手，那 现在 应该 是 单身 吧。 Tā 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。Jìrán nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, 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。Jìrán dàjiā dōu bù gǎn xìngqù, jiù huàn gè 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

The second halves of following sentences are all suggestions.

  • 你 既然 不 喜欢 他，为什么 还 想 跟 他 出去？Nǐ jìrán bù xǐhuan tā, wèishénme hái xiǎng gēn tā chūqù?Since you don't like him, why would you go out with him?
  • 既然 你 已经 决定 了，为什么 现在 后悔？Jìrán nǐ yǐjīng juédìng le, wèishénme xiànzài hòuhuǐ?Since you've already made your decision, why regret it now?
  • 既然 他 那么 忙，你 为什么 还 去 打扰 他？Jìrán tā nàme máng, nǐ wèishénme hái qù dǎrǎo tā?Since he's so busy, why would you go bother him?
  • 既然 已经 分手 了，为什么 还 要 见面？Jìrán yǐjīng fēnshǒu le, wèishénme hái yào jiànmiàn?Since we've already broken up, why would we still meet up?
  • 既然 你 男朋友 那么 有钱，那 他 为什么 不 能 大方 一点？Jìrán nǐ nánpéngyou nàme yǒuqián, nà tā wèishénme bù néng dàfang yīdiǎn?Since your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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