HSK 6 · VERSION 2.0#28

Expressing “Unexpectedly” with “jìngrán”

竟然

jìngrán

How it works

竟然 (jìngrán) also means “unexpectedly,” “to one’s surprise,” or “actually even...” It is used when the outcome goes far beyond what was expected.

Compared with 居然 (jūrán), 竟然 (jìngrán) often sounds slightly more formal, more objective, or more suitable for written narration.

经过这么长时间的准备，这个看似不可能完成的计划竟然真的实现了。

Jīngguò zhème cháng shíjiān de zhǔnbèi, zhège kàn sì bù kěnéng wánchéng de jìhuà jìngrán zhēn de shíxiàn le.

After such a long period of preparation, this seemingly impossible plan unexpectedly was actually realized.

他平时话很少，可到了关键时刻竟然表现得比谁都沉着。

Tā píngshí huà hěn shǎo, kě dào le guānjiàn shíkè jìngrán biǎoxiàn de bǐ shéi dōu chénzhuó.

He usually says very little, yet at a crucial moment he unexpectedly behaved more calmly than anyone else.

一个连自己都不太相信的人，最后竟然被大家一致推选为负责人。

Yí ge lián zìjǐ dōu bù tài xiāngxìn de rén, zuìhòu jìngrán bèi dàjiā yízhì tuīxuǎn wéi fùzérén.

A person who did not even really believe in himself was unexpectedly unanimously chosen by everyone as the person in charge.

Both 居然 (jūrán) and 竟然 (jìngrán) express unexpectedness, but 竟然 (jìngrán) often feels slightly more formal and narrative.