既然 Since

Learn how to express logical conclusions and suggestions using the 既然…就… structure meaning “since…, then…”

Basic Logical Structure

The structure 既然…就… (jìrán…jiù…) is used to express logical conclusions, suggestions, or inferences based on established facts. It can be translated as “since…, then…” or “now that…, then…” in English.

既然 + Fact/Condition + 就 + Conclusion/Suggestion

Logical Inference Visualization

Established Fact

既然你来了

jìrán nǐ láile

“since you are here”

Known situation

then

Logical Conclusion

就进屋坐一会儿吧

jiù jìnwū zuò yíhuìr ba

“then come in and sit for a while”

Suggested action

Complete Sentence: 既然你来了，就进屋坐一会儿吧！
(Since you are here, come on in and sit for a while!)

既然 (jìrán) – The Fact Marker

既然 (jìrán) means “since”, “now that”, or “this being the case”. It introduces a fact or situation that is already known or established.

既然你来了

jìrán nǐ láile

Structure: 既然 + Established Fact

Translation: since you are here

既然你不去

jìrán nǐ bú qù

Structure: 既然 + Negative Fact

Translation: since you are not going

Key point: 既然 introduces a situation that serves as the basis for the following conclusion

就 (jiù) – The Conclusion Marker

就 (jiù) means “then” and introduces the logical conclusion, suggestion, or inference that follows from the established fact.

就进屋坐一会儿吧

jiù jìnwū zuò yíhuìr ba

Structure: 就 + Suggested Action

Translation: then come in and sit for a while

就不去了

jiù bú qù le

Structure: 就 + Negative Conclusion

Translation: then [I] won’t go either

Key point: 就 is necessary in Chinese even when “then” might be omitted in English translation

Logical Reasoning Process

Step 1: Fact

既然你来了

jìrán nǐ láile

since you are here

Established situation

Step 2: Connector

就

jiù

then

Logical connection

Step 3: Conclusion

进屋坐一会儿吧

jìnwū zuò yíhuìr ba

come in and sit for a while

Logical inference

Important: This construction is not generally used to express a direct result, but more of a suggestion or inference deduced from the first fact.

Suggestion and Inference Pattern

The most common use of 既然…就… is to express suggestions or logical inferences based on established facts. This structure shows what should logically follow from a given situation.

既然 + Fact/Condition + 就 + Suggestion/Inference

Suggestion Examples

Structure	Chinese	English Translation	Audio
既然…就…	既然你来了，就进屋坐一会儿吧！ jìrán nǐ láile, jiù jìnwū zuò yíhuìr bɑ！	Since you are here, come on in and sit for a while!
既然…也…	既然你不去，我也不去了。 jìrán nǐ búqù, wǒ yě búqù le.	Since you are not going, I am not going either.

就 for Direct Conclusions

既然 + Fact, 就 + Suggestion

jìrán + shìshí, jiù + jiànyì

Pattern: Direct suggestion based on fact

Example: 既然下雨了，就带伞吧。
Since it’s raining, take an umbrella.

既然 + Fact, 就 + Decision

jìrán + shìshí, jiù + juédìng

Pattern: Logical decision

Example: 既然没时间，就不去了。
Since there’s no time, [we] won’t go.

Key point: 就 introduces a direct conclusion or suggestion that logically follows from the established fact.

也 for Parallel Actions

既然 + Fact, 也 + Similar Action

jìrán + shìshí, yě + xiāngsì dòngzuò

Pattern: Doing something similar

Example: 既然你不去，我也不去。
Since you’re not going, I’m not going either.

既然 + Fact, 也 + Logical Response

jìrán + shìshí, yě + luójí huíyìng

Pattern: Responding in kind

Example: 既然他同意了，我也同意。
Since he agreed, I agree too.

Key point: 也 indicates a parallel or similar action in response to the established fact.

Suggestion Based on Presence

既然你来了，就进来坐吧。

jìrán nǐ láile, jiù jìnlái zuò ba.

Translation: Since you’re here, come in and sit down.

Logic: You are here → logical to invite you in.

Decision Based on Others’ Actions

既然你不去，我也不去了。

jìrán nǐ bú qù, wǒ yě bú qù le.

Translation: Since you’re not going, I’m not going either.

Logic: You’re not going → I’ll make same decision.

Decision Based on Time

既然时间不早了，就明天再做吧。

jìrán shíjiān bù zǎo le, jiù míngtiān zài zuò ba.

Translation: Since it’s getting late, let’s do it tomorrow.

Logic: It’s late → logical to postpone.

Decision Based on Resources

既然钱不够，就买便宜点的。

jìrán qián bú gòu, jiù mǎi piányi diǎn de.

Translation: Since we don’t have enough money, let’s buy a cheaper one.

Logic: Limited money → choose cheaper option.

Important: Inference vs. Direct Result

The 既然…就… structure expresses logical inferences or suggestions, not direct cause-and-effect results. Compare with other structures:

既然…就… (Logical inference):

既然你累了，就休息吧。

Since you’re tired, you should rest. (Suggestion based on fact)

因为…所以… (Direct cause-effect):

因为你累了，所以需要休息。

Because you’re tired, you need to rest. (Direct result)

如果…就… (Conditional):

如果你累了，就休息吧。

If you’re tired, rest. (Conditional suggestion)

既然…就… is used when the first part is already true, and the second part is a logical response to that truth.

Question Pattern with 既然

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Word Position Rules

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Practice Exercises

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既然 Since

1 Basic Logical Structure

Logical Inference Visualization

既然 (jìrán) – The Fact Marker

就 (jiù) – The Conclusion Marker

Logical Reasoning Process

2 Suggestion and Inference Pattern

Suggestion Examples

就 for Direct Conclusions

也 for Parallel Actions

Suggestion Based on Presence

Decision Based on Others’ Actions

Decision Based on Time

Decision Based on Resources

Important: Inference vs. Direct Result

3 Question Pattern with 既然

4 Word Position Rules

Practice Exercises

Basic Logical Structure

Suggestion and Inference Pattern

Question Pattern with 既然

Word Position Rules