既然
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 4 (2021)Old HSK 4
既然 (jìrán) · since
既然 (jìrán) means “since; now that”. It is written with 2 characters: 既 (both…and (既…又…)) + 然 (certainly). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 既然 is built
The characters
既 jì · both…and (既…又…)
What 既 is made of
- 旡jì — to choke on something
Origin hint: A person 旡 turning away from food 皀; compare 即 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
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
既然你不舒服，就早点儿休息吧。Jìrán nǐ bù shūfu, jiù zǎo diǎnr xiūxi ba.Since you're not feeling well, get some rest early.
既然来了，为什么不进去？Jìrán lái le, wèishénme bù jìnqù?Since you're here, why not go in?
Questions about 既然
What does 既然 mean?
既然 (jìrán) means “since; now that”.
How do you pronounce 既然?
既然 is pronounced jìrán.
Which HSK level is 既然?
既然 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 一如既往yīrújìwǎngjust as always
- 既jìboth…and (既…又…)
- 大自然dàzìránnature (the natural world)
- 忽然hūránsuddenly
- 然后ránhòuthen
- 虽然suīránalthough
- 必然bìráninevitable
- 当然dāngránof course
- 果然guǒránsure enough
- 仍然réngránstill
Learn 既然 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 69: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.