As Expected (果然)
果然
The adverb 果然 (guǒrán) means "as expected," "sure enough," or "indeed" and confirms that something happened exactly as predicted or anticipated.
Pattern
Subject + 果然 + Verb/Adjective
Explanation
果然 is used when the outcome matches what was expected or predicted. It conveys a sense of confirmation — "just as I thought" or "sure enough." The speaker had a prior expectation, and reality confirmed it. This makes 果然 the semantic opposite of 竟然 (unexpectedly).
果然 is placed before the verb it modifies. It often appears in narratives after someone makes a prediction or has a suspicion, followed by the confirming event. In conversation, it can also express "I knew it!" or "Just as I suspected."
Note: 果然 implies the speaker is confirming their own prediction or a widely held expectation. If you want to express that someone else's claim turned out to be true, 确实 (quèshí, indeed/truly) may be more appropriate.
Examples
天气预报说会下雨，果然下雨了。
Tiānqì yùbào shuō huì xiàyǔ, guǒrán xiàyǔ le.
The weather forecast said it would rain, and sure enough it rained.
大家都说这家餐厅好吃，果然名不虚传。
Dàjiā dōu shuō zhè jiā cāntīng hǎochī, guǒrán míng bù xū chuán.
Everyone said this restaurant was good, and sure enough its reputation is well-deserved.
他果然通过了考试。
Tā guǒrán tōngguò le kǎoshì.
He passed the exam, as expected.
我就知道你果然会来！
Wǒ jiù zhīdào nǐ guǒrán huì lái!
I knew you would come!
Often used with 就知道 for emphasis
Common Mistakes
Wrong
果然他来了，我很吃惊。
Correct
他竟然来了，我很吃惊。
果然 means "as expected." If you were surprised, use 竟然 (unexpectedly) instead.
Wrong
我果然不知道答案。
Correct
我果然不会做这道题。
Using 果然 with 不知道 sounds odd because not knowing something is not usually a prediction one makes about oneself.
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