HSK 5
Correct

竟然 vs 居然

/ jìngrán vs jūrán /
Strokes
https://i.cchatty2.com/filters:format(webp)/fit-in/684x0/img/202005/竟然vs居然-Chinese-grammar-Cchatty-yyyy-1589851802.jpg

Formula

1
Sb. /Sth. + 竟然 + …...
2
Sb./Sth. + 居然 + ......
3
居然 + sb_/sth. + ......

Definition

竟然 and 居然 both are Adverbs of Mood (语气副词), used to indicate something is unexpected, abnormal or irregular.

 

竟然 HSK 4

居然 HSK 5

Example

竟然
竟然 can be replaced by 竟. But 竟然 is usually used in spoken Chinese, while 竟 can be used either in spoken or written Chinese.
Sb. /Sth. + 竟然 + …...
1
Jīntiān
今天
shì
péngyou
女朋友
de
shēng
生日
  
,
jìngrán
竟然
wàng
le
  

Today is your girlfriend's birthday, I can't believe you forgot it.

2
dào
zhège
这个
礼物
tài
gāoxìng
高兴
le
  
,
jìng
  
(
rán
  
)
wàng
le
shuō
xièxie
谢谢
  

He's so happy to get this present that he completely forgot to say thanks.

居然 and 竟然 have the same meaning, but 居然 is more emphatic.
Sb./Sth. + 居然 + ...... 居然 + sb_/sth. + ......
3
rán
居然
kǎo
guò
le
GRE
GRE
  
  
=
rán
居然
kǎo
guò
le
GRE
GRE
  

I can't believe he passed GRE exam.

4
Zhème
这么
de
shēngyīn
声音
  
,
rán
居然
méi
tīngjiàn
听见
  
.
  
=
zhème
这么
de
shēngyīn
声音
  
,
rán
居然
méi
tīngjiàn
听见
  
.

The noise was so aloud, I couldn't believe you didn't hear it.

竟然 and 居然 both can be used to indicate something bad is unexpected. They can also be used to indicate something good is unexpected.
5
jìngrán
竟然
  
(
rán
居然
  
)
piàn
  

I couldn't believe he lied to me.

6
xué
学习
hàn
汉语
cái
bàn
nián
  
,
jìngrán
竟然
  
(
rán
居然
  
)
shuō
de
zhème
这么
hǎo
  

Unexpectedly, he can speak Chinese so good, because he just learned Chinese half a year.

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with "竟然"or "居然". Note: In some cases, both are correct

 

1. 明天考试,( )你不知道。

2. 这么好的女孩儿,你( )不喜欢。

3. 我花了 5000块买的手机,( )一个月就坏了。

4. 她才20岁,( )已经大学毕业了。  

5. 说好8点来,她( )8点半才来。  

6. 没想到她( )这么伤心。 

7. 我说了这么多遍,你( )不记得。

8. 这么难看的衣服,价格( )这么贵。

Related

竟然居然