当然 (dāngrán) · of course

当然 (dāngrán) means “of course; certainly; naturally”. It is written with 2 characters: 当 (to be) + 然 (certainly). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).

How 当然 is built

The characters

当 dāng · to be

What 当 is made of

⺌ — structural part
彐jì — snout
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

然 rán · certainly

What 然 is made of

肰rán — dog meat
- ⺼ — meat
- 犬quǎn — dog
  - 大dà — big
  - 丶 — dot
灬huǒ — fire

Origin hint: 灬 gives the meaning, 肰 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

你想来？当然可以！Nǐ xiǎng lái? Dāngrán kěyǐ!You want to come? Of course you can!

你当然应该去。Nǐ dāngrán yīnggāi qù.Of course you should go.

Questions about 当然

What does 当然 mean?

当然 (dāngrán) means “of course; certainly; naturally”.

How do you pronounce 当然?

当然 is pronounced dāngrán.

Which HSK level is 当然?

当然 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 3.

Related words

Learn 当然 with its group

It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 41: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group