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竟然 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
竟然
jìngrán
unexpectedly
HSK 4, d, 23 strokes, rank #1549, Medium
竟然
jìngrán
to one's surprise
HSK 4, d, 23 strokes, rank #1549, Medium
竟然
jìngrán
in spite of everything
HSK 4, d, 23 strokes, rank #1549, Medium
竟然
jìngrán
in that crazy way
HSK 4, d, 23 strokes, rank #1549, Medium
竟然
jìngrán
actually
HSK 4, d, 23 strokes, rank #1549, Medium
竟然
jìngrán
to go as far as to
HSK 4, d, 23 strokes, rank #1549, Medium
jìngrán(jing4ran2)jing ran T4
1unexpectedly
2to one's surprise
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March 24, 2026
竟然jìngrán(jing4ran2)
竟然 (jìngrán) is an adverb used to express surprise, indicating that something happened unexpectedly or contrary to one's expectations. It often conveys a sense of disbelief or astonishment about a situation that turns out differently than anticipated.
Strokes23Frequency#1549DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the element of surprise is often tied to storytelling, where unexpected twists are a hallmark. The use of 竟然 reflects the cultural appreciation for the unexpected in daily life, such as surprises in family gatherings or social events.
Memory tip
Imagine someone saying, 'I can't believe it actually happened!' The character 竟 (jìng) looks like a person standing on a cliff, shocked by the view, while 然 (rán) is like flowing water, representing the unexpected changes in life. Together, they symbolize the surprise of encountering something you didn't see coming.
Meanings of 竟然
jìngrán(jing4ran2)
1unexpectedly
2to one's surprise
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About 竟然
竟然Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#1549Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 竟然
Podcast: 竟然
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AI study notes for 竟然
Quick Contrast
意外 (yìwài) — use 竟然 (jìngrán) to emphasize surprise at an unexpected outcome, whereas 意外 (yìwài) focuses more on the unexpected nature itself.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 竟 (jìng) is pronounced with a falling tone and 然 (rán) with a rising tone. It's common to mistakenly use 竟然 in formal contexts; it's more suited for informal conversations. A frequent collocation is 竟然可以 (jìngrán kěyǐ), meaning 'to actually be able to.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 竟然 can be linked to other HSK 4 vocabulary that expresses emotion or surprise. Focus on practicing sentences where 竟然 is used to contrast expectations, which helps in understanding its contextual meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 竟然 with 竟 (jìng) alone, using it without 然 (rán) or misplacing it in sentences. For example, saying '我竟了' (Wǒ jìng le) instead of '我竟然来了' (Wǒ jìngrán lái le) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 竟然
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竟然 (jìngrán) is an adverb used to express surprise, indicating that something happened unexpectedly or contrary to one's expectations. It often conveys a sense of disbelief or astonishment about a situation that turns out differently than anticipated.
When to use 竟然
Be cautious with the tone, as 竟 (jìng) is pronounced with a falling tone and 然 (rán) with a rising tone. It's common to mistakenly use 竟然 in formal contexts; it's more suited for informal conversations. A frequent collocation is 竟然可以 (jìngrán kěyǐ), meaning 'to actually be able to.'
竟然 or something close to it
意外 (yìwài) — use 竟然 (jìngrán) to emphasize surprise at an unexpected outcome, whereas 意外 (yìwài) focuses more on the unexpected nature itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 竟然 with 竟 (jìng) alone, using it without 然 (rán) or misplacing it in sentences. For example, saying '我竟了' (Wǒ jìng le) instead of '我竟然来了' (Wǒ jìngrán lái le) is incorrect.
Write 竟然
竟
然
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Grammar patterns of 竟然
竟然 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
zhuàng sǐ Shǐ mì Sī de qìchē sījī jǐn bèi fákuǎn250 yīngbàng， jiàzhào shàng kòu le5 fēn。 gèng ràng rén bù kě jiēshòu de shì， tā jìngrán kāi zhe zìjǐ de chē cóng fǎyuàn yáng cháng ér qù。
The driver of the car that killed Smith got a £250 fine and five penalty points on his licence. To add insult to injury, he drove away from court in his own car.
