竟然 (actually / unexpectedly)
"Believe it or not, …!"
- unexpectedly竟然 marks something surprising — against all expectation.
- he / him他unexpectedly竟然to forget忘(completed / change)了 = "he actually forgot (can you believe it)!"
- It adds an "I can't believe it" reaction.
Subj + unexpectedly竟然 + Predicate
- unexpectedly竟然 flags the unexpected, just before the verb.
he他actually竟然forget忘了。
- he / him他unexpectedly竟然to forget忘(completed / change)了 = "he actually forgot — unbelievable!"
Practice
He actually forgot! 他 ____ 忘了。
竟然 + Predicate = unexpectedly: 他竟然忘了.
unexpectedly竟然 vs unexpectedly居然
- unexpectedly居然 is a near-synonym; both express surprise / disbelief.
Explore
Correct or broken?
竟然 gasps at what actually happened — believe it or not.
Practice
What does 竟然 add?
竟然 = “against all expectation”: 他竟然忘了 (unbelievable).
Practice
居然 is a close synonym of 竟然.
Yes — both express surprise / disbelief.
Recap
Key idea
- unexpectedly竟然 + Predicate — "actually / unexpectedly (surprise!)"
- he / him他unexpectedly竟然to forget忘(completed / change)了 = he actually forgot!
- unexpectedly居然 is a close synonym
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adverbs.