当然

dāng rán

HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Adverb Very common

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Definitions

1. only natural
2. as it should be
3. certainly
4. of course
5. without doubt

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items

• 必然 bì rán 必然 bì rán inevitable 表示一定会发生，更书面，例如‘这是必然的结果’: inevitable
• 理所当然 lǐ suǒ dāng rán 理所当然 lǐ suǒ dāng rán as it should be by rights (idiom); proper and to be expected as a matter of course 表示按道理应当如此，例如‘他理所当然地接受了’: as it should be by rights (idiom); proper and to be expected as a matter of course

Synonyms

2 items

• 自然 zì rán 自然 zì rán nature 表示某事是预料之中的，例如‘他自然/当然会来’: nature
• 肯定 kěn dìng 肯定 kěn dìng to be certain 表示确定、无疑，例如‘他肯定/当然知道’: to be certain

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Don't use 当然 to express 'of course not' in a negative answer; use 当然不 or rephrase to avoid sounding blunt.

Formality

当然 is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings, unlike its synonym 自然 which is slightly more formal.

Grammar

Guides that feature 当然

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min

当然, 其实 and 终于 for “Of Course,” “Actually” and “Finally”

Use 当然 for something obvious, 其实 for the real truth behind how things look, and 终于 for something that finally happens after a wait.

Reading: dāng rán Open guide

Example Sentences

4 shown

当然 可以。

Of course you can.

当然 。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 3952424)

那 当然 。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 411576)

当然 了。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 4970077)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 当然

• 理所当然 理所当然 lǐ suǒ dāng rán: as it should be by rights (idiom); proper and to be expected as a matter of course
• 想当然 想当然 xiǎng dāng rán: to take sth as given
• 想当然尔 想当然尔 xiǎng dāng rán ěr: to take sth as given

Child Words of 当然

• 当 当 dāng: (onom.) dong
• 当 当 dàng: at or in the very same...
• 然 然 rán: correct