Difference between revisions of "Expressing "since" with "jiran""

m (Text replacement - "péngyǒu" to "péngyou")
(18 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
既然 (jìrán) means "since", and is often followed by 就 to mean "since...then...." It is used like this:
 
  
==Structure==
+
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 ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
既然 + Fact, 那 / 就 + Suggestion / Inference  
+
 
 +
既然+Fact, 那 / 就 / 那就+Suggestion / Inference
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
This construction is not generally used to express a result, but more of a suggestion or inference deduced from the first fact.
+
=== Examples ===
  
==Examples==
+
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*你 <em>既然</em> 不 想 说,<em>那就</em> 别 说 了。<span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jìrán</em> bùxiǎng shuō, <em>nà jiù</em> bié shuō le.</span><span class="trans">Since you don't want to speak, just don't say it.</span>
 +
*<em>既然</em> 你 那么 喜欢,<em>那就</em> 买 吧。 <span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐ <em>nàme</em> xǐhuān, nà jiù mǎi ba.</span><span class="trans">Since you like it so much, buy it then.</span>
 +
*她 <em>既然</em> 刚刚 分手,<em>那</em> 现在 应该 是 单身 吧。 <span class="expl">an inference</span><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>
 +
*<em>既然</em> 你们 是 好 朋友,<em>那</em> 他 肯定 会 帮 你 吧。<span class="expl">an inference</span><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>
 +
*<em>既然</em> 大家 都 不 感 兴趣,<em>就</em> 换 个 话题 吧。<span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> dàjiā dōu bùgǎn xìngqù, <em>jiù</em> huàngè huàtí ba.</span><span class="trans">Since nobody is interested, let's change the topic.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== 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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
既然 + Fact,  (那 +)rhetorical question
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <em>既然</em> 刚生 了 孩子,<em></em> 她 一定 很 累 吧。 <span class="trans">Since she just gave birth to a child, she is definitely tired.</span> <span class="expl">an inference)</span>
+
 
* 他 的 关系 <em>既然</em> 那么 硬,<em></em> 他 肯定 能 帮 我们 吧。<span class="trans">Since his relationship his so strong, he can definitely help us.</span> <span class="expl">an inference)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 不 喜欢 他,为什么 还 想 跟 他 出去?<span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jìrán</em> bù xǐhuān tā, wèishéme hái xiǎng gēn tā chūqù?</span><span class="trans">Since you don't like him, why do you want to go out with him?</span>
* <em>既然</em> 那么 有 钱,<em></em> 干吗 不 能 把 一部分 财产 捐 给 慈善 机构 呢?<span class="trans">Since he has so much money, why wouldn't he be able to donate some to charity?</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="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐ yǐjīng juédìng le, wèishéme xiànzài hòuhuǐ?</span><span class="trans">Since you've made your decision, don't regret it then.</span>
* <em>既然</em> 大家 的 意见 一致,<em></em> 最好 趁早 行动!<span class="trans">Since it's unanimous, it would be best to tak action as soon as possible.</span> <span class="expl">a suggestion)</span>
+
*<em>既然</em> 那么 忙,你 为什么 还 去 打扰 他?<span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> tā nàme máng, nǐ wèishéme hái qù dǎrǎo tā?</span><span class="trans">Since he's so busy, why would you bother him?</span>
* 你 <em>既然</em> 不 想 说,<em>那就</em> 算了 吧。<span class="trans">Since you don't want to speak, just for get it.</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="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> yǐjīng fēnshǒu le, wèishéme hái yào jiànmiàn?</span><span class="trans">Since we broke up, why would we still see each other?</span>
 +
*<em>既然</em> 你 男朋友 那么 有 钱,<em></em> 他 为什么 能 大方 一点?<span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐ nán péngyou nàme yǒu qián, nà tā wèishéme bùnéng dàfāng yīdiǎn?</span><span class="trans">Since your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?</span>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 +
 
*[[Cause and Effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"]]
 
*[[Cause and Effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"]]
 
*[[Because" with "er" Indicating Effect]]
 
*[[Because" with "er" Indicating Effect]]
Line 28: Line 60:
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
* [[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}}

Revision as of 02:28, 7 July 2020

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

  • 既然 不 想 说,那就 别 说 了。a suggestionjìrán 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 suggestionJìránnàme xǐhuān, nà jiù mǎi ba.Since you like it so much, buy it then.
  • 既然 刚刚 分手, 现在 应该 是 单身 吧。 an inferencejìrán gānggāng fēnshǒu, xiànzài yīnggāi shì dānshēn ba.Since she just had a breakup, she should be single now.
  • 既然 你们 是 好 朋友, 他 肯定 会 帮 你 吧。an inferenceJìrán nǐmen shì hǎo péngyou, 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, 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

  • 既然 不 喜欢 他,为什么 还 想 跟 他 出去?a suggestionjìrán 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, 他 为什么 不 能 大方 一点?a suggestionJìrán nǐ nán péngyou nàme yǒu qián, nà tā wèishéme bùnéng dàfāng yīdiǎn?Since your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books