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

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*你 <em>既然</em> 不 想 说,<em>那就</em> 别 说 了。<span class="expl">a suggestion</span><span class="trans">Since you don't want to speak, just don't say it.</span>
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*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="trans">Since you like it so much, buy it then.</span>
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*<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="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="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="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="expl">an inference</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Jìrán</em> nǐmen shì hǎo péngyǒu, <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="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="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>
  
 
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Revision as of 20:06, 23 June 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 péngyǒu, 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 suggestionSince 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 suggestionSince 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 suggestionSince he's so busy, why would you bother him?
  • 既然 已经 分手 了,为什么 还 要 见面?a suggestionSince 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 suggestionSince your boyfriend is so rich, why can't he be more generous?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books