既然 (jì rán) — (conjunction) since; given that; now that

Definition

既然 (jìrán) starts a reason clause meaning 'since / given that' — the follow-up usually expresses the speaker's decision or response, not a logical result (that's 因此 / 于是). Formal in tone.

conjunction
sincegiven thatnow that

Examples

  • 既然，。
    jì rán Nǐ yǐ jīng jué dìng le, wǒ jiù bú zài quàn nǐ le.
    Since you've already decided, I won't try to persuade you anymore.
  • 既然，。
    jì rán Dà jiā dōu tóng yì, nà wǒ men jiù àn zhè ge jì huà zuò ba.
    Since everyone agrees, let's just follow this plan.
  • 既然，？
    jì rán Nǐ lái le, wèi shén me hái zhàn zài mén kǒu bú jìn lái?
    Since you're here, why are you still standing at the door not coming in?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

既jìalready
然ránso

既 gives already and 然 gives so, marking a premise that is already accepted.

Characters in this word

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

  • 皀皀jíbowl of rice
  • 旡旡jìkneeling figure

既 combines 皀, a bowl of rice, with 旡, a kneeling figure: a person kneeling at the bowl, having finished eating.

Open 既 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Cause, Effect & Logic2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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