Of Course – Dāngrán

Grammar Point:
當当然 dāngrán is an adverb that expresses certainty, indicating that something is “certain,” “obvious,” or “of course.

Structure

S + 當然/当然 dāngrán + Predicate

恐怖片kǒngbùpiàn當然dāngrán還是háishì要yào在zài電影院diànyǐngyuàn看kàn才cái好hǎo恐怖片kǒngbùpiàn当然dāngrán还是háishì要yào在zài电影院diànyǐngyuàn看kàn才cái好hǎo
Of course, horror movies are best enjoyed in the cinema.

鹹酥雞xiánsūjī當然dāngrán要yào加jiā九層塔jiǔcéngtǎ才cái好吃hǎochī咸酥鸡xiánsūjī当然dāngrán要yào加jiā九层塔jiǔcéngtǎ才cái好吃hǎochī
For crispy chicken, adding basil is a must to make it delicious.

你nǐ昨晚zuówǎn那麼nàme晚wǎn睡shuì， 今天jīntiān當然dāngrán會huì打瞌睡dǎkēshuì你nǐ昨晚zuówǎn那么nàme晚wǎn睡shuì， 今天jīntiān当然dāngrán会huì打瞌睡dǎkēshuì
Considering you slept so late last night, naturally, you’d be sleepy today.

你nǐ喝hē這麼zhème多duō咖啡kāfēi， 當然dāngrán會huì跑pǎo廁所cèsuǒ你nǐ喝hē这么zhème多duō咖啡kāfēi， 当然dāngrán会huì跑pǎo厕所cèsuǒ
You’re consuming so much coffee, naturally, you’ll need to use the restroom.

你nǐ戴dài著zhe耳機ěrjī， 當然dāngrán聽tīng不到búdào你nǐ戴dài着zhe耳机ěrjī， 当然dāngrán听tīng不到búdào
With headphones on, of course, you can’t hear.

你nǐ去qù台灣Táiwān了le， 當然dāngrán應該yīnggāi去qù阿里山ālǐshān看看kànkàn你nǐ去qù台湾Táiwān了le， 当然dāngrán应该yīnggāi去qù阿里山ālǐshān看看kànkàn
Since you’re in Taiwan, of course, you should visit Alishan.

FYI
Alishan is an amazing place in Taiwan! Nestled right in the heart of the island, it’s all about misty forests, ancient trees, and these mind-blowing sunrise views. You won’t believe the trees – some of them have been around for like a thousand years. And it’s not just nature, you know? The Tsou culture there is like this beautiful mix of old traditions and modern life. Oh, and there’s this Alishan Forest Railway – a historic train that’s like a journey through time. Seriously, if you’re into hiking, stunning views, and a touch of culture, Alishan’s the place to be.

當然/当然 dāngrán + Short Phrase

A：我wǒ可以kěyǐ看kàn一下yíxià這zhè本běn書shū嗎ma？ 我wǒ可以kěyǐ看kàn一下yíxià这zhè本běn书shū吗ma？
Can I take a look at this book?

B：當然dāngrán可以kěyǐ当然dāngrán可以kěyǐ
Of course you can.

A：晚上wǎnshàng要yào一起yìqǐ吃飯chīfàn嗎ma？ 晚上wǎnshang要yào一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn吗ma？
Do you want to have dinner together tonight?

B：當然dāngrán好hǎo当然dāngrán好hǎo
Of course!

A：你nǐ可以kěyǐ借jiè我wǒ你的nǐde牙刷yáshuā嗎ma？ 你nǐ可以kěyǐ借jiè我wǒ你的nǐde牙刷yáshuā吗ma？
Can you lend me your toothbrush?

B：當然dāngrán不行bùxíng！ 你nǐ有yǒu病bìng啊a！ 当然dāngrán不行bùxíng！ 你nǐ有yǒu病bìng啊a！
Absolutely not! What’s wrong with you?

A：老師lǎoshī給gěi那麼nàme多duō作業zuòyè， 你nǐ全部quánbù做zuò完wán了le嗎ma？ 老师lǎoshī给gěi那么nàme多duō作业zuòyè， 你nǐ全部quánbù做zuò完wán了le吗ma？
The teacher assigned so much homework, did you finish all of it?

B：當然dāngrán做zuò不bù完wán， 我wǒ已經yǐjīng放棄fàngqì了le！ 当然dāngrán做zuò不bù完wán， 我wǒ已经yǐjīng放弃fàngqì了le！
Of course not, I’ve already given up!

Other Common Phrases

理所當然/理所当然 lǐsuǒ dāngrán

理所當当然 lǐsuǒ dāngrán can be translated to English as “taken for granted” or “as a matter of course. It’s used to describe a situation or something that is expected or accepted without question because it’s considered to be the natural or logical outcome. It implies that there’s no need for further explanation or justification because it’s widely acknowledged or understood.

父母fùmǔ愛ài孩子háizi不是búshì理所當然lǐsuǒdāngrán的de嗎ma？ 父母fùmǔ爱ài孩子háizi不是búshì理所当然lǐsuǒdāngrán的de吗ma？
Isn’t it natural for parents to love their children?

你nǐ驚訝jīngyà什麼shénme？ 養yǎng狗gǒu的de人rén每天měitiān帶dài狗gǒu散步sànbù是shì理所當然lǐsuǒdāngrán的de你nǐ惊讶jīngyà什么shénme？ 养yǎng狗gǒu的de人rén每天měitiān带dài狗gǒu散步sànbù是shì理所当然lǐsuǒdāngrán的de
What are you surprised about? People who have dogs naturally take them for a walk every day.

你nǐ不該bùgāi理所當然lǐsuǒdāngrán地de認為rènwèi他tā得děi幫bāng你nǐ你nǐ不该bùgāi理所当然lǐsuǒdāngrán地de认为rènwèi他tā得děi帮bāng你nǐ
You shouldn’t just assume that he has to help you without question.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Drinking so much, of course, you’ll get drunk.

你nǐ喝hē這麼zhème多duō， 當然dāngrán會huì醉zuì你nǐ喝hē这么zhème多duō， 当然dāngrán会huì醉zuì

✔️ When a typhoon comes, of course, flights need to be canceled.

颱風táifēng來lái了le， 當然dāngrán得děi取消qǔxiāo航班hángbān台风táifēng来lái了le， 当然dāngrán得děi取消qǔxiāo航班hángbān

✔️ Tiffany is, of course, a good teacher, you don’t need to worry. 😎

Tiffany 當然dāngrán是shì一位yíwèi好hǎo老師lǎoshī， 你nǐ不用búyòng擔心dānxīn当然dāngrán是shì一位yíwèi好hǎo老师lǎoshī， 你nǐ不用búyòng担心dànxīn

• All different 然 rán in Chinese