既然

• 拼音: jì rán
• 汉字拆解: 既 = already/completed; 然 = 灬 (fire) + 犬 (dog) + 肉 (meat) — 'so, thus' from burning/cooking connotation

含义

Since; now that. Used to introduce an established fact as the basis for a conclusion or suggestion.

Always appears at the beginning of a clause to acknowledge something that has already happened or is already true, then draws a logical conclusion in the second clause, often paired with 就 or 那. The pattern is: 既然 + known fact, 就/那 + conclusion/action. Different from 因为 (because) — 既然 emphasizes that the fact is mutually known.

例句

1. 既然你不想去，那我们就待在家里吧。
2. 既然已经决定了，就不要再犹豫了。
3. 既然天气这么好，我们出去走走吧。

用法指南

语境: everyday, reasoning, persuasion

语气: logical

正确说法

• 既然来了，就多待一会儿吧。(Since you're here, stay a bit longer.)
• 既然知道错了，就改过来。(Now that you know you were wrong, correct it.)

错误说法

• 既然明天下雨 (Don't use 既然 for uncertain future events — it requires an established fact; use 如果 for 'if it rains tomorrow')

起源与历史

A compound of 既 (already) and 然 (so/thus), together meaning 'since it is already so' — establishing a premise that leads to a logical consequence.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal