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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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To express something is unexpected, you can use the adverb 竟然 after the subject. 竟然 has the same meaning as 居然, but is not as intense.
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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 ==
 
== Structure ==
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
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Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯
Subject + 竟然 ⋯⋯
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
You can also drop out the 然 and use just 竟. This can be used in spoken or written Chinese.
 
You can also drop out the 然 and use just 竟. This can be used in spoken or written Chinese.
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Subject + 竟  ⋯⋯
 
 
</div>
 
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我们 准备 出发 的 时候,他 <em>竟然</em> 说 不 去 了。<span class="trans">When we were ready to set out, he suddenly said he wasn't going.</span>
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*我们 出发 的 时候 ,他 <em>竟然</em> 说 不 去 了。<span class="trans">When we were ready to set out, he suddenly said he wasn't going.</span>
* 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 actually started to laugh.</span>
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*这 是 一 件 让 人 难过 的 事情 ,你 <em>竟然</em> <span class="trans">This is something that makes people sad, but you are actually laughing?</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>  
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*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>  
* 总统 <em>竟</em> 没有 对 朝 扔 鞋子 人 生气。<span class="trans">Surprisingly, the president didn't get mad at the person who threw a shoe at him.</span>
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*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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== See also ==
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*[[Expressing "as expected" with "guoran"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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* [[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]
 
* [[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]
  
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[[Category: C1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: C1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar||C1|Subject + 竟然 + ⋯⋯|我们 准备 出去 的 时候,他 <em>竟然</em> 说 去。|grammar point|ASG0D90L}}
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{{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|竟然}}
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{{Rel char|}}
 
{{Rel char|居然}}
 
{{Rel char|居然}}
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{{Used for|Expressing surprise}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Used for|Expressing surprise}}
 

Revision as of 07:24, 18 January 2018

Chinese-grammar-wiki-居然.jpg

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.

  • 我们 要 出发 的 时候 ,他 竟然 说 不 去 了。When we were ready to set out, he suddenly said he wasn't going.
  • 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 不 生 他 的 气 ?You got ripped off by that guy.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books