既然 jì rán
“since; as; this being the case”
conjunctionHSK 4 · 2021 list level 4
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
既然 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1331: 既然 jìrán — Level 4; official annotation 4 (连). PDF page 113
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 既然
既然 is a conjunction meaning "since / now that": it introduces a fact the listener already knows or accepts, and then leads to a conclusion, suggestion or decision. It normally opens the sentence, and the second clause usually contains 就, 那 or 那就. Pattern: 既然……，就/那……。
例句Example sentences
- 既然你不想去，那我们就在家休息吧。jì rán nǐ bù xiǎng qù, nà wǒ men jiù zài jiā xiū xi ba.Since you don't want to go, let's just rest at home.
- 既然来了，就一起吃个饭吧。jì rán lái le, jiù yì qǐ chī gè fàn ba.Now that you're here, let's have a meal together.
- 既然你已经知道这件事了，我就不多说了。jì rán nǐ yǐ jīng zhī dao zhè jiàn shì le, wǒ jiù bù duō shuō le.Since you already know about this, I won't say any more.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗既然去年我开始学中文，我说得越来越好。
✓自从去年我开始学中文，我说得越来越好。
既然 does not mean time "since"; for "from a past time until now" use 自从.