竟然

jìngrán

Meaning

竟然 is an adverb meaning “unexpectedly”, “to one's surprise”, “actually (surprisingly)”. It shows that the speaker did not expect this at all and is surprised by it. It normally goes before a verb or an adjective.

Basic structure

Subject + 竟然 + Verb / Adjective

Examples

这(Zhè)个(ge)歌(gē)特(tè)别(bié)好(hǎo)听(tīng)，最(zuì)近(jìn)很(hěn)流(liú)行(xíng)，你(nǐ)竟(jìng)然(rán)没(méi)听(tīng)过(guò)？

This song is lovely and it's popular right now. You really haven't heard it?

来(Lái)这(zhè)家(jiā)饭(fàn)馆(guǎn)吃(chī)饭(fàn)的(de)人(rén)竟(jìng)然(rán)这(zhè)么(me)多(duō)，排(pái)队(duì)都(dōu)排(pái)到(dào)门(mén)口(kǒu)外(wài)边(bian)去(qù)了(le)！

There were unexpectedly so many people at this restaurant that the queue stretched out the door!

回(Huí)家(jiā)以(yǐ)后(hòu)，我(wǒ)才(cái)发(fā)现(xiàn)，竟(jìng)然(rán)忘(wàng)了(le)去(qù)商(shāng)场(chǎng)的(de)超(chāo)市(shì)买(mǎi)果(guǒ)汁(zhī)！

It was only after we got home that I realised we'd completely forgotten to go to the supermarket in the mall for the juice!

When is 竟然 used?

竟然 is used for: — an unexpected result; — surprise; — disbelief; — something contrary to expectations.

竟然 vs. 居然

他(Tā)竟(jìng)然(rán)会(huì)说(shuō)十(shí)种(zhǒng)语(yǔ)言(yán)。

He can actually speak ten languages!

他(Tā)居(jū)然(rán)没(méi)告(gào)诉(su)我(wǒ)。

He didn't even tell me.

竟然 → stronger surprise at an unexpected result. 居然 → almost the same, but more colloquial and sometimes carries a note of reproach.

竟然 vs. 原来

我(Wǒ)竟(jìng)然(rán)忘(wàng)了(le)。

I actually forgot.

原(Yuán)来(lái)你(nǐ)在(zài)这儿(zhèr)！

So you're here!

竟然 → an unexpected result. 原来 → realising how things really are.

Remember: 竟然 = unexpectedly, to one's surprise. It comes before a verb or adjective. It expresses the speaker's surprise.