adverb HSK 5
unexpectedly · actually · to one's surprise · in the end
Meaning
竟 is an adverb expressing unexpectedness or surprise at an outcome. It emphasizes that something happened contrary to expectations or in a surprising way. It often conveys a sense of disbelief or emphasis on the unexpected nature of an event.
Usage
竟 is used in written and formal spoken Chinese to express surprise or emphasize unexpected outcomes. It typically appears before the verb in a sentence. Common in narrative writing and formal speech. Often paired with 然 as 竟然 (jìngrán) with the same meaning but slightly more emphatic.
Examples
- 01他竟忘记了我们的约定。.He actually forgot our agreement.
- 02这道题这么难，她竟做对了。, .This problem is so difficult, yet she actually got it right.
Common collocations
- 竟然unexpectedly (more emphatic form)
- 竟敢how dare, to actually dare to
- 竟会would actually, unexpectedly would
Antonyms
Origin
The character 竟 originally meant 'to finish' or 'to end' (related to 终 zhōng). Its meaning evolved to express the final, often unexpected result of something—hence 'unexpectedly' or 'actually'.