adv.
of course; naturally; certainly
当然
of course; naturally; certainly
Adverb meaning 'of course' or 'certainly' (当 should + 然 naturally); expresses confident agreement or self-evident fact.
Common Usage & Traps
- 当然可以 — of course that's fine; sure, no problem
- 当然了 — of course! (soft, friendly answer)
- 当然知道 — obviously knows; of course knows
- 当然不舒服 — naturally feels bad about it; ends up upset, as you'd expect
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当然吗？真的吗？ / 是吗？You cannot glue 吗 onto 当然 to ask 'of course?'. For surprise use 真的吗, and for checking agreement use 是吗.
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不当然当然不是 / 当然不 + verb (当然不去)不 never sits in front of 当然. English 'of course not' flips the order: 当然 first, then the verb you are denying.
When 当然 shows up in the middle of a sentence, does it still mean 'of course'?
Mid-sentence, 当然 means 'naturally' or 'as expected', not a loud 'of course'.
Standing alone, 当然 is a confident yes: 当然！means 'obviously, of course'. Placed before a verb or adjective, it turns into 'naturally' — the result you would expect. In the story, old Beijingers feeling bad right after seeing the change is the obvious reaction. So read it as 'as you'd expect', not as someone loudly agreeing with you.
“看着这，老北京们心里当然不舒服。” (Seeing this, old-time Beijingers naturally feel uncomfortable about it.)
“看着这，老北京们心里当然不舒服。” (Seeing this, old-time Beijingers naturally feel uncomfortable about it.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Slot in sentence | 他当然生气 (当然 before the feeling) | 他生气当然 (当然 dumped at the end) |
| Meaning | naturally, the expected result | definitely, for sure |
| Best English match | naturally / as expected | of course (as a one-word answer) |
Can you answer a friend with just 当然, or does it come across as rude?
Bare 当然 as a reply can sound smug — add 了 or a verb.
When a friend asks for a favor, a bare 当然 can land like 'duh, obviously'. Add 了 or a verb to keep it warm: 当然了, 当然可以, 当然帮你. Chinese 'of course' answers usually carry that extra bit, unlike English, where 'of course' alone is perfectly polite. Simple trick: if you would say it with a smile, add 了.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Replying to a favor | 当然了 / 当然可以 | 当然 (by itself) |
| Replying to 'do you like it?' | 当然喜欢 | 当然 |
| Tone it lands as | warm, friendly | smug and clipped, like 'duh' |
Can you swap 当然 for 一定 when you want to say 'definitely'?
一定 makes a promise or demand; 当然 points at what is already obvious.
一定 is about promises and demands: 你明天一定要来 means 'you must come tomorrow'. 当然 is about what everyone already knows: 他当然知道 means 'he obviously knows'. That is why 我一定知道 sounds bizarre — you cannot promise to know something. Stick with 我当然知道 for 'of course I know'.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Answering 'do you know him?' | 我当然认识他 | 我一定认识他 |
| Promising to show up | 我明天一定来 | 我明天当然来 (sounds like 'duh') |
| Core job | 当然 flags the obvious | 一定 flags a promise or a demand |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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B： 当然 不是吃的苹果，是苹果手机！
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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当然 ，就算是没有误会，方便面也不好多吃。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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看着这，老北京们心里 当然 不舒服。
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