Difference between revisions of "Expressing the unexpected with "jingran""

Latest revision as of 04:52, 9 March 2019

Level

C1 / HSK4
Level

C1
Level

HSK4
Similar to
Similar to
Used for

Expressing surprise
Keywords

居然, 竟然, 竟

To express something is unexpected, you can use the adverb 竟然 (jìngrán) after the subject. 竟然 has the same meaning as 居然, but is not as intense.

Structure

Like many other adverbs, 竟然 is placed after the subject. This grammar structure is usually used in spoken Chinese.

Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯

You can also drop out the 然 and use just 竟. This can be used in spoken or written Chinese.

Examples

Note that it can be difficult to translate the word 竟然 into an appropriate English word. Sometimes it's just a feeling that doesn't come across well in English unless you can hear the tone of voice.

没想到你竟然当着老师的面撒谎。I didn't expect you could lie in front of the teacher's face.
这是一件让人难过的事情，你竟然还笑？This is something that makes people sad, but you are actually laughing?
他那么努力，竟然没考及格！He is so hardworking, but, surprisingly, he didn't pass the exam.
那个人骗了你的钱，你竟不生他的气？You got ripped off by that guy.
大家都以为他不会答应，可是他竟然答应了。Everyone thought he would say no, but he said yes.
这么复杂的项目，竟然这么快就完成了。This project is so complex, but it's been completed so soon.

Sources and further reading

Books

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Grammar Box}}
-{{Stub}}
-When you want to express something is unexpected, you can use the adverb 竟然.It has the same meaning as 居然, however, 居然 is more intense.
+To express something is unexpected, you can use the adverb 竟然 (jìngrán) after the subject. 竟然 has the same meaning as 居然, but is not as intense.
 == Structure ==
@@ Line 9: / Line 8: @@
 <div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯
-Subject + 竟然 ……
 </div>
 You can also drop out the 然 and use just 竟. This can be used in spoken or written Chinese.
-<div class="jiegou">
+== Examples ==
-Subject + 竟  ……
+Note that it can be difficult to translate the word 竟然 into an appropriate English word. Sometimes it's just a ''feeling'' that doesn't come across well in English unless you can hear the tone of voice.
-</div>
+<div class="liju">
-=== Examples ===
+*没想到 你 <em>竟然</em> 当 着 老师 的 面 撒谎 。<span class="trans">I didn't expect you could lie in front of the teacher's face.</span>
+*这 是 一 件 让 人 难过 的 事情 ，你 <em>竟然</em> 还 笑 ？<span class="trans">This is something that makes people sad, but you are actually laughing?</span>
+*他 那么 努力 ，<em>竟然</em> 没 考 及格 ！<span class="trans">He is so hardworking, but, surprisingly, he didn't pass the exam.</span>
+*那个人 骗 了 你 的 钱 ，你 <em>竟</em> 不 生 他 的 气 ？<span class="trans">You got ripped off by that guy.</span>
+*大家 都 以为 他 不 会 答应 ，可是 他 <em>竟然</em> 答应 了 。<span class="trans">Everyone thought he would say no,  but he said yes.</span>
+*这么 复杂 的 项目 ，<em>竟然</em> 这么 快 就 完成 了 。<span class="trans">This project is so complex, but it's been completed so soon.</span>
-<div class="liju">
+</div>
-* 我们 准备 出发 的 时候，他 <em>竟然</em> 说 他 不 去 了。<span class="trans">When we were ready to set out, he suddenly said he wasn't going.</span>
+== See also ==
-* 这 是 一 件 让 人 难过 的 事情，但是 围观 的 人 <em>竟然</em> 笑 起来。<span class="trans">This is something that makes people sad, but the people watching started to laugh.</span>
-* 小李 那么 用功，不知道 为什么 他 <em>竟然</em>  没 考 及格。<span class="trans">Xiao Li is a hard worker. I don't know why he didn't pass.</span>
-* 总统 <em>竟</em> 没有 对 朝 他 扔 鞋子 的 人 生气。<span class="trans">Surprisingly, the president didn't get mad at the person who threw a shoe at him.</span>
-</div>
+*[[Expressing "as expected" with "guoran"]]
 == Sources and further reading ==
 === Books ===
-* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5)]] （p. 9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561914083/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561914083 →buy]
-* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (p.137)[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]
-* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]](p.41) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|69}}
+{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5)|9}}
+{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|137}}
+{{Source|Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)|41}}
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|49}}
 [[Category: C1 grammar points]]
-{{Basic Grammar|竟|C1|Subject + 竟然 + ……|我们 准备 出去 的 时候，他 <em>竟然</em> 说 他 不 去。|grammar point|ASG0D90L}}
+{{HSK|HSK4}}
-{{Rel char|竟然}}
+{{Basic Grammar|竟然|C1|Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯|我们 要 出发 的 时候，他 <em>竟然</em> 说 不 去 了 。|grammar point|ASG0D90L}}
+{{Rel char|竟}}
+{{Rel char|居然}}
+{{Used for|Expressing surprise}}
 {{POS|Adverbs}}
-{{Used for|Expressing suprise}}