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当然 (dāng rán) — of course, certainly, naturally

Definition

当然 is the everyday 'of course' — a confident, conversational reply agreeing something is true. Stronger and more emphatic than the softer 自然 ('naturally'), and not the same as 果然, which means 'sure enough' (a fact just confirmed).

adverb
of coursecertainlynaturally

Examples

  • 当然。
    Wǒ dāng rán xǐ huan zhè ge diàn yǐng.
    I certainly like this movie.
  • 当然。
    Nǐ dāng rán kě yǐ lái.
    You can certainly come.
  • 当然。
    Nà dāng rán shì zuì hǎo de bàn fǎ.
    That is certainly the best way.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

当dāngshould
然ránso

当 means should, and 然 adds a so sense, making the whole of course.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng當dāng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Open 当 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

Grammar

Appears in
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