竟然 / 居然
to one’s surprise; actually
Structure
主语 竟然／居然 出乎意料的事
What it means
To one's surprise; actually: marks an event as unexpected, sometimes shocking or hard to believe.
How it is built
Subject + 竟然／居然 + unexpected event: 这么简单的题，我居然做错了 (Such an easy question, and I actually got it wrong). It goes before the verb.
When to use it
竟然 and 居然 are interchangeable; 居然 is slightly more spoken. 果然 is the opposite: 'sure enough', as expected. 竟 alone is written.
Watch out
Not for what was expected: ✗ 我猜他会来，他竟然来了 ✓ 我猜他会来，他果然来了. 竟然 means against expectation.
Examples
范进中了举人，竟然高兴得发了疯。
Fan Jin passed and was so happy that he actually went mad.
这么简单的题，我居然做错了。
Such an easy question, and I actually got it wrong.
Learn this in Lesson 78 · HSK 6–7: 科举制度 (The imperial examinations)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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