竟然
to my surprise; actually (something you did not expect)
Structure
主语 + 竟然 + 动词
What it means
“To my surprise, actually”: tells the listener that something happened which you did not expect, good or bad.
How it is built
Subject + 竟然 + verb: 第一次约会，大卫竟然在电影院里睡着了 (on his first date, David actually fell asleep in the cinema). It often follows 没想到: 没想到她竟然笑了.
When to use it
It shows strong surprise, often with ！. It is the opposite of 果然 “just as expected”: 天气预报说下雨，果然下雨了; 天气预报说是晴天，竟然下雨了.
Watch out
竟然 goes after the subject, before the verb: ✗ 竟然他来了。 ✓ 他竟然来了。 Don’t mix it up with 果然, which says the thing you expected did happen.
Examples
他才学了半年汉语，竟然能看懂中文电影！
He’s only been learning Chinese for six months, and he can actually follow Chinese films!
第一次约会，大卫竟然在电影院里睡着了。
On his first date, David actually fell asleep in the cinema.
我以为她会生气，没想到她竟然笑了。
I thought she’d be angry, but to my surprise she laughed.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 15: 七夕约会 (A Qixi date)
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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