既然…就…: since/given that
Meaning: since / given that … then … The speaker accepts a fact that is already known or acknowledged, then draws a logical conclusion from it.
Structure: 既然 + known/acknowledged fact + 就 + logical conclusion
✅ 既然你已经决定了，就不要后悔。(Given that you've decided, don't regret it.)
✅ 既然天气这么好，我们就出去走走吧。
Key distinction from 因为/所以: 因为 introduces a new reason the listener may not know; 既然 refers to a fact that is ALREADY ACCEPTED by both parties.
Contrast with other connectives:
- 既然/就 = accepted fact → logical conclusion
- 虽然/但是 = concession → unexpected main point
- 无论/都 = all values → universal result
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 既然你不想去，就不用勉强自己了。 | Jì rán nǐ bù xiǎng qù, jiù bù yòng miǎn qiǎng zì jǐ le. | Since you don't want to go, there's no need to force yourself. | 既然 accepts the known preference (you don't want to go), 就 draws the logical action |
| 既然大家都同意了，我们就按照这个计划去做吧。 | Jì rán dà jiā dōu tóng yì le, wǒ men jiù àn zhào zhè gè jì huà qù zuò ba. | Since everyone has agreed, let's go ahead with this plan. | Group consensus (accepted fact) → 就 + natural next step |
| 既然问题已经清楚了，我们就可以开始讨论解决方案了。 | Jì rán wèn tí yǐ jīng qīng chǔ le, wǒ men jiù kě yǐ kāi shǐ tǎo lùn jiě jué fāng àn le. | Now that the problem is clear, we can start discussing solutions. | 既然is forward-pointing: 'now that X is known, we can do Y' |
既然…就… is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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