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敢情 (gǎn qíng) — it turns out that...; so that's how it is (expressing realization); of course; indeed (emphatic); as luck would have it; coincidentally

Definition

Colloquial northern-Chinese adverb used to react to a realization, a coincidence, or a 'so that's how it is' moment — three shades (turns out / of course / as it happens) folded into one word. Strongly colloquial; avoid in writing.

adverb
it turns out that...so that's how it is (expressing realization)of courseindeed (emphatic)as luck would have itcoincidentally

Examples

  • 敢情！
    gǎn qíng Nǐ shì xīn lái de tóng shì!
    So you're the new colleague!
  • 敢情。
    gǎn qíng Zhè shì r róng yì dé hěn.
    Of course this matter is very easy.
  • 敢情，！
    gǎn qíng Tā yě zài zhè r, zhēn qiǎo!
    As luck would have it, he's here too — what a coincidence!

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form showed a hand using a tool to hunt a wild boar. Later the tool was dropped and another mark was added, and the shape changed into 敢.

Open 敢 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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