竟然

竟然 is an adverb meaning 'surprisingly' or 'unexpectedly.' It expresses a sense of surprise or disbelief at something that has happened, often used when the outcome is contrary to expectations.

The character 竟 (jìng) originally meant 'finally' or 'after all,' and it conveys a sense of completion or realization. 然 (rán) is a classical suffix used to form adverbs, often indicating a state or manner. Together, 竟然 implies a surprising conclusion or unexpected result.

在中文中，竟然常用于表达对某事的惊讶，比如“他竟然通过了考试”（He surprisingly passed the exam）。它常见于口语和书面语中，尤其在描述出乎意料的事情时非常自然。它也可以与“居然”互换使用，但“竟然”语气更强烈。