果然 guǒrán really
really; sure enough; as expected; if indeed
How to remember 果然: 果 fruit + 然 however = really.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Sure enough / just as expected' - confirms a prediction came true: 我猜会下雨,果然下了 (wǒ cāi huì xiàyǔ, guǒrán xià le) I guessed it'd rain, and sure enough it did.
- Contrast 居然/竟然 (jūrán/jìngrán, surprisingly, the OPPOSITE of expectation). 果然 = matched expectation; 竟然 = defied it.
- Usually mid-sentence before the confirmed event.