Usage of 竟然
The adverb 竟然 is used to express surprise or something unexpected happening. It often conveys a stronger sense of astonishment compared to similar words like 居然 or 出乎意料.
Common Contexts
- Unexpected actions or events: "他竟然忘了..."
- Surprising achievements or results: "电影竟然获得了..."
- Expressing admiration or disbelief: "你竟然会说..."
Collocations and Patterns
- 竟然 + verb phrase: highlights an unexpected action.
- 竟然 + 会/能 + verb: emphasizes surprising ability.
- 竟然 + 连 + noun + 都/也 + verb: stresses unexpected inclusiveness.
Nuance and Register
This word is informal to neutral and commonly used in spoken and written Mandarin. It often implies the speaker's surprise or disbelief about the situation.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 竟然 with 竟; 竟然 is an adverb expressing surprise, while 竟 alone can mean "finally" or "after all" without the surprise nuance.