4 · Linking clauses
Since, given that: jìrán … jiù
reasoning from an accepted fact
Jìrán takes something both speakers already accept, and jiù draws the conclusion from it.
既然 means “since, seeing that, now that”. It starts from a fact that both speakers already accept — often something the other person has just said — and the second clause draws a conclusion from it, usually with 就 after its subject: 既然你累了，就早点儿休息吧, “since you’re tired, get some rest early”.
The conclusion is typically advice, a suggestion, a decision or a question: 吧, 应该 and 为什么 are at home in the second half. A question after 既然 often carries a gentle or not so gentle reproach: “if that is so, why …?”.
既然 is not a general “because”. 因为 gives a reason the listener may not know; 既然 builds on something the listener knows already. Telling a teacher why you were absent is news, so it takes 因为. And 既然 differs from 如果 in the same way: “if” supposes, “since” takes as given.
English “since” has a third meaning, about time: “since last year”. That is neither of these, but 自从 … 以后 or 从 … 以来. 既然 can stand before or after the subject of its clause.
The form
| a conclusion: 就 … 吧 | 既然你累了，就早点儿休息吧。 |
| 既然 after the subject | 你既然来了，就多住几天吧。 |
| a question | 既然你知道，为什么不告诉我？ |
| with 也 | 既然大家都同意，我也没意见了。 |
| compare: news takes 因为 | 因为我病了，所以没来。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
既然 starts from a fact both speakers already accept; 就 draws the conclusion.
既然你已经决定了，我就不多说了。Since you’ve already made up your mind, I won’t say any more.
The second half is often advice, a suggestion or a decision — something the speaker thinks should follow.
既然外面在下雨，我们就在家看电影吧。Seeing that it’s raining outside, let’s watch a film at home.
Use 既然 only for what the listener already knows; a cause they do not know takes 因为.
既然你也喜欢爬山，下次我们就一起去吧。Since you like hiking too, let’s go together next time.
A question after 既然 often carries a reproach: “if so, why …?”.
既然你不想去，为什么还买票？If you didn’t want to go, why did you buy a ticket?
A closer look
Three meanings of English “since”
“Since you’re here, stay for dinner” builds on a known fact: 既然. “Since the trains were on strike, I was late” gives a reason: 因为 or, in writing, 由于. “Since I moved here, I cycle to work” is about time: 自从搬到这儿以后，我每天骑车上班.
In conversation, 那 often does the work of 既然 on its own, as a reply: someone says they are tired, and the answer is 那你早点儿睡吧, “then go to bed early”. 既然 spells out the reasoning that 那 leaves implicit.
How to spot it
- 既然
- 既然…就…
- 既然…为什么
- 既然如此
Example sentences
既然你不舒服，就别去上班了。Since you’re not feeling well, don’t go to work.
既然来了，就坐一会儿再走吧。Now that you’re here, sit down for a while before you go.
既然答应了别人，你就应该做到。Since you made a promise, you should keep it.
既然这家店关门了，我们就去别的地方看看。As this shop is closed, let’s go and look somewhere else.
你既然知道错了，就去跟他道歉吧。Since you know you were wrong, go and apologise to him.
既然大家都到了，那我们就开始吧。Since everyone is here, let’s begin.
6 more example sentences
既然你这么想去，就去吧。Since you want to go so much, go.
既然开始学了，就要坚持下去。Now that you’ve started learning, you must keep at it.
既然时间还早，我们就走着去吧。Since it’s still early, let’s walk.
既然你都看见了，我就跟你说实话吧。Since you’ve seen it anyway, I’ll tell you the truth.
既然价格一样，我们就买质量好一点儿的吧。Since the price is the same, let’s buy the better one.
他既然说了会来，就一定会来。Since he said he would come, he will definitely come.
Worth knowing (1)
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Jìrán rúcǐ: “in that case”
既然如此, “that being so”, stands at the start of a sentence and refers back to whatever has just been said. It is a little formal, and common in polite or business conversation.
既然如此，我们只好改天再说了。In that case, we’ll have to talk about it another day.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English “since” can give news: “since I was ill, I didn’t come”. 既然 cannot — it treats the first half as something the teacher already knows, which sounds odd, and it does not pair with 所以. A reason the listener is hearing for the first time takes 因为.
Jìrán builds on what is already agreed; for news, use yīnwèi.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.