竟然 (jìng rán) — unexpectedly in Mandarin
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#1433 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
竟然 is pronounced jìng rán. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Tā jìng rán méi yǒu lái.
Unexpectedly, he didn't come.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 竟然 mean?+
竟然 (jìng rán) means "unexpectedly" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 竟然?+
竟然 is pronounced jìng rán. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 竟然 in Mandarin?+
竟然 is the #1433 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 竟然 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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