# Expressing the unexpected with "竟然"

<SentenceQuiz>

- 没想到 你 _竟然_ 当 着 老师 的 面 撒谎 。
  - I didn't expect you could lie in front of the teacher's face.
- 这 是 一 件 让 人 难过 的 事情 ，你 _竟然_ 还 笑 ？
  - This is something that makes people sad, but you are actually laughing?
- 他 那么 努力 ，_竟然_ 没 考 及格 ！
  - He is so hardworking, but, surprisingly, he didn't pass the exam.
- 那个人 骗 了 你 的 钱 ，你 _竟_ 不 生 他 的 气 ？
  - You got ripped off by that guy.
- 大家 都 以为 他 不 会 答应 ，可是 他 _竟然_ 答应 了 。
  - Everyone thought he would say no, but he said yes.
- 这么 复杂 的 项目 ，_竟然_ 这么 快 就 完成 了 。
  - This project is so complex, but it's been completed so soon.

</SentenceQuiz>

<TOC>

- Level: [C1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/C1_grammar_points) / [HSK4](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK4_grammar_points)
- Similar to
- Used for: [Expressing surprise](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_surprise)
- Keywords: [居然](./居然&反而.md), [竟然](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%AB%9F%E7%84%B6), [竟](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%AB%9F)

</TOC>

To express something is unexpected, you can use the adverb 竟然 (jìngrán) after the subject. 竟然 has the same meaning as 居然, but is not as intense.

## Structure

Like many other adverbs, 竟然 is placed after the subject. This grammar structure is usually used in spoken Chinese.

Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯

You can also drop out the 然 and use just 竟. This can be used in spoken or written Chinese.

## Examples

Note that it can be difficult to translate the word 竟然 into an appropriate English word. Sometimes it's just a _feeling_ that doesn't come across well in English unless you can hear the tone of voice.

- 没想到 你 _竟然_ 当 着 老师 的 面 撒谎 。
  - I didn't expect you could lie in front of the teacher's face.
- 这 是 一 件 让 人 难过 的 事情 ，你 _竟然_ 还 笑 ？
  - This is something that makes people sad, but you are actually laughing?
- 他 那么 努力 ，_竟然_ 没 考 及格 ！
  - He is so hardworking, but, surprisingly, he didn't pass the exam.
- 那个人 骗 了 你 的 钱 ，你 _竟_ 不 生 他 的 气 ？
  - You got ripped off by that guy.
- 大家 都 以为 他 不 会 答应 ，可是 他 _竟然_ 答应 了 。
  - Everyone thought he would say no, but he said yes.
- 这么 复杂 的 项目 ，_竟然_ 这么 快 就 完成 了 。
  - This project is so complex, but it's been completed so soon.

## See also

- [Expressing "as expected" with "果然"](./果然.md)

## Sources and further reading

### Books

- [HSK Standard Course 4上](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK_Standard_Course_4%E4%B8%8A) (pp. 69) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_5_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC5)>) (pp. 9) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7)>) (pp. 137) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Practicing_HSK_Grammar_(%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%B2%BE%E8%AE%B2%E7%B2%BE%E7%82%BC)>) (pp. 41) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp. 49) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)