既然 jìrán Grammar

Grammar Point:
既然 jìrán is a conjunction in Chinese that can be translated as “since” or “now that”. It implies that the speaker has acknowledged the situation and is now making plans accordingly.

Structure

既然 + the fact + 那 / 就 / 那就 + suggestion

It can be used to give advice or make suggestions. And just like other conjunctions, 既然 jìrán can be placed before or after the subject. However, if the subjects in the two clauses are the same, 既然 jìrán is more commonly placed after the subject.

既然jìrán你nǐ打算dǎsuàn結婚jiéhūn， 那nà就jiù更gèng應該yīnggāi跟gēn女朋友nǚpéngyǒu好好hǎohǎo談tán既然jìrán你nǐ打算dǎsuàn结婚jiéhūn， 那nà就jiù更gèng应该yìnggāi跟gēn女朋友nǚpéngyou好好hǎohǎo谈tán
Since you plan to get married, it is better to have a good talk with your girlfriend.

既然jìrán買mǎi五個wǔge就jiù有yǒu一個yíge免費miǎnfèi， 我wǒ當然dāngrán要yào買mǎi五個wǔge既然jìrán买mǎi五个wǔge就jiù有yǒu一个yíge免费miǎnfèi， 我wǒ当然dāngrán要yào买mǎi五个wǔge
Since there is one free if you buy five, I definitely want to buy five.
(A suggestion for myself)

既然jìrán你nǐ說shuō你nǐ明天míngtiān沒空méikōng， 那nà我wǒ就jiù改天gǎitiān再zài來lái找zhǎo你nǐ既然jìrán你nǐ说shuō你nǐ明天míngtiān没空méikōng， 那nà我wǒ就jiù改天gǎitiān再zài来lái找zhǎo你nǐ
Since you said you’re not available tomorrow, I’ll come to see you another day.

既然jìrán你nǐ對duì繁體fántǐ中文zhōngwén有興趣yǒuxìngqù， 我wǒ推薦tuījiàn你nǐ到dào台灣Táiwān學xué中文zhōngwén既然jìrán你nǐ对duì繁体fántǐ中文zhōngwén有兴趣yǒuxìngqù， 我wǒ推荐tuījiàn你nǐ到dào台湾Táiwān学xué中文zhōngwén
Since you are interested in traditional Chinese, I recommend you learn Chinese in Taiwan.

FYI
So, there are these two ways of writing Chinese – Traditional and Simplified. Traditional Chinese characters have this really ancient vibe and are still used in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. They’re like a beautiful art form with all these intricate strokes and details. Now, Simplified Chinese characters came around in the 20th century. They have fewer strokes and simpler shapes, which makes them quicker to write and learn, but they might lead to a bit of confusion sometimes. They’re the norm in mainland China, and you’ll also see them in places like Singapore and Malaysia.
A useful tip: If you learn Traditional Chinese, you won’t have any difficulty reading Simplified. However, if you start with Simplified, you might find it challenging to understand Traditional characters later on.

既然 + Fact, (那 +) Rhetorical Question

When it goes to a question, 那 nà will be the only option to link these two clauses. However, in colloquial Chinese, dropping 那 nà is also acceptable.

你nǐ既然jìrán不bù喜歡xǐhuān這zhè車子chēzi， 那nà當初dāngchū為什麼wèishénme要yào買mǎi？ 你nǐ既然jìrán不bù喜欢xǐhuan这zhè车子chēzi， 那nà当初dāngchū为什么wèishénme要yào买mǎi？
If you don’t like the car, why did you buy it then?

既然jìrán現在xiànzài機票jīpiào那麼nàme貴guì， 我們wǒmen為什麼wèishénme一定yídìng要yào現在xiànzài出國chūguó？ 既然jìrán现在xiànzài机票jīpiào那么nàyāo贵guì， 我们wǒmen为什么wèishénme一定yídìng要yào现在xiànzài出国chūguó？
Since air tickets are so expensive now, why do we have to go overseas now?

既然jìrán他tā超級chāojí有錢yǒuqián， 怎麼zěnme會huì要yào租zū車chē？ 既然jìrán他tā超级chāojí有钱yǒuqián， 怎么zěnyāo会huì要yào租zū车chē？
If he is so rich, why does he need to rent a car?

既然jìrán這zhè票piào不是búshì給gěi我wǒ的de， 那nà你nǐ是shì打算dǎsuàn跟gēn誰shéi去qù？ 既然jìrán这zhè票piào不是búshì给gěi我wǒ的de， 那nà你nǐ是shì打算dǎsuàn跟gēn谁shéi去qù？
Since this ticket is not for me, who are you going to go with?

Common Mistakes

Many people mix up 既然 jìrán and 因為为 yīnwèi, but 既然 jìrán is only used for facts that have already happened—things you’ve just realized and can’t change, often leading to a logical suggestion. On the other hand, 因為为 yīnwèi doesn’t have these restrictions.

既然jìrán你nǐ很hěn忙máng我們wǒmen沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān去qù旅行lǚxíng既然jìrán你nǐ很hěn忙máng我们wǒmen没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān去qù旅行lǚxíng ❌
Since you’re busy, we don’t have time to travel.
(Not a suggestion)

既然jìrán你nǐ很hěn忙máng我們wǒmen下個月xiàgeyuè再zài去qù旅行lǚxíng既然jìrán你nǐ很hěn忙máng我们wǒmen下个月xiàgeyuè再zài去qù旅行lǚxíng ✅
Since you’re busy, let’s travel next month instead.

既然jìrán我們wǒmen明天míngtiān會huì一起yìqǐ吃飯chīfàn， 我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi現在xiànzài預約yùyuē餐廳cāntīng既然jìrán我们wǒmen明天míngtiān会huì一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn， 我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi现在xiànzài预约yùyuē餐厅cāntīng ❌
Since we’re having dinner together tomorrow, we should book a restaurant now.
(Not a fact that have already happened)

因為yīnwèi我們wǒmen明天míngtiān會huì一起yìqǐ吃飯chīfàn， 我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi現在xiànzài預約yùyuē餐廳cāntīng因为yīnwèi我们wǒmen明天míngtiān会huì一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn， 我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi现在xiànzài预约yùyuē餐厅cāntīng ✅
Because we’re having dinner together tomorrow, we should book a restaurant now.

• All different 然 rán in Chinese