竟然 (jìng rán) — unexpectedly; to one's surprise; actually (expressing disbelief)

Definition

Expresses disbelief: 'unexpectedly / to one's surprise / actually' — stronger and more written than 居然, which is the more colloquial spoken form for the same surprise.

adverb
unexpectedlyto one's surpriseactually (expressing disbelief)

Examples

  • 竟然
    Jīn tiān tā jìng rán méi lái shàng bān.
    He didn't come to work today, which was unexpected.
  • 竟然
    Wǒ yǐ wéi kǎo shì hěn nán, jié guǒ jìng rán zhè me jiǎn dān.
    I thought the exam would be hard, but it turned out to be so simple.
  • 竟然
    Zhè me zhòng yào de shì, tā jìng rán wàng le.
    He actually forgot such an important matter.

Grammar

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