竟然 jìngrán unexpectedly
unexpectedly; to one's surprise; go so far as to
How to remember 竟然: 竟 finally + 然 however = unexpectedly.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Unexpectedly / to one's surprise / actually went so far as to' - 他竟然忘了我的名字 (tā jìngrán wàngle wǒ de míngzi) he actually forgot my name!
- Adverb marking astonishment that something so unlikely happened; stronger surprise flavor than 居然 is nearly identical.
- Contrast 果然 (guǒrán, sure enough, as expected) - its opposite: 竟然 flags the outcome as contrary to expectation.
Example sentences
- 你竟然给我打电话。 Nǐ jìngrán gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.What a surprise that you should call me.
- 我很惊讶你竟然那么天真。 Wǒ hěn jīngyà nǐ jìngrán nàme tiānzhēn.I'm surprised you're so naive.
- 我很惊讶，你竟然不知道他们结婚了。 Wǒ hěn jīngyà, nǐ jìngrán bù zhīdào tāmen jiéhūn le.I'm surprised that you don't know about their marriage.