Unexpectedly (竟然)
竟然
The adverb 竟然 (jìngrán) means "unexpectedly" or "to one's surprise" and expresses that something happened contrary to expectations, often conveying surprise or disbelief.
Pattern
Subject + 竟然 + Verb/Adjective
Explanation
竟然 is an adverb that expresses surprise, disbelief, or unexpectedness. It indicates that the speaker did not expect the situation to occur — the result is surprising, whether positively or negatively. It can be translated as "unexpectedly," "actually," "to one's surprise," or "believe it or not."
竟然 is placed before the verb or adjective it modifies. It carries a stronger emotional tone than 居然 (jūrán, a near synonym) and is often used when the speaker finds something hard to believe or remarkable. The sentence with 竟然 usually implies a contrast between what was expected and what actually happened.
Compare with similar adverbs: 果然 (as expected — opposite meaning), 居然 (unexpectedly — similar but slightly less emphatic), and 确实 (indeed/really — confirms rather than surprises).
Examples
他竟然会说五种语言！
Tā jìngrán huì shuō wǔ zhǒng yǔyán!
He can actually speak five languages!
Expresses positive surprise
这么简单的问题，你竟然不会？
Zhème jiǎndān de wèntí, nǐ jìngrán bú huì?
Such a simple question, and you can't answer it?
Expresses disbelief/frustration
我竟然忘了她的名字。
Wǒ jìngrán wàng le tā de míngzi.
I actually forgot her name.
她竟然一个人去了那么远的地方。
Tā jìngrán yí gè rén qù le nàme yuǎn de dìfang.
She actually went to such a faraway place alone.
没想到他竟然通过了考试。
Méi xiǎngdào tā jìngrán tōngguò le kǎoshì.
I didn't expect he would actually pass the exam.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
竟然他会说中文。
Correct
他竟然会说中文。
竟然 is placed after the subject, before the verb. It cannot start a sentence before the subject.
Wrong
他竟然了通过考试。
Correct
他竟然通过了考试。
竟然 goes before the verb phrase. 了 attaches to the verb, not to 竟然.
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