The adverbs that show what the speaker expected, feared, meant or did not believe.
Much of the feeling in a Chinese sentence sits in one small adverb before the verb. 竟然 says the speaker did not expect it, 果然 that they did, 难道 that they cannot believe it, and 幸亏 that it was lucky. They stand after the subject, not before it as English “surprisingly” or “luckily” often does — 他竟然来了, not the other way round — although a few, such as 幸亏 and 难道, can open the sentence.
The words
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Adverb (40)
本来originally; at first; it goes without sayingAdverb4
我本来想去爬山，可是下雨了。I had meant to go hiking, but it rained.
What was planned or true before; 原来 can also say you have just found out.
原来so it turns out; originallyAdverb4
原来你早就知道了！So you knew all along!
到底on earth (in questions); after allAdverb4
你到底想去哪儿？Where on earth do you want to go?
In a question it presses impatiently for an answer.
究竟exactly; actually (in questions)Adverb4
这件事究竟是谁做的？Who exactly did this?
A more formal 到底.
毕竟after allAdverb4
别怪他，他毕竟还是个孩子。Don't blame him; he is only a child, after all.
竟然unexpectedly; to one's surpriseAdverb4
这么简单的题，他竟然做错了。He actually got such an easy question wrong.
居然actually; to one's surpriseAdverb4
她学了半年中文，居然能看中文小说了。After only half a year of Chinese she can already read Chinese novels.
Close to 竟然, a little more colloquial.
果然as expected; sure enoughAdverb4
天气预报说有雨，下午果然下雨了。The forecast said rain, and sure enough it rained in the afternoon.
难道surely ... not? (in rhetorical questions)Adverb4
难道你不知道今天放假吗？Surely you know today is a holiday?
Turns a question into a challenge; the expected answer is the opposite of what is asked.
甚至even; so much asAdverb4
他最近太忙了，甚至连吃饭的时间都没有。He has been so busy lately that he does not even have time to eat.
千万by all means; whatever you do (don't)Adverb4
开车的时候千万别看手机。Whatever you do, don't look at your phone while driving.
An urgent piece of advice, most often with 别 or 不要.
稍微slightly; a littleAdverb4
这件衣服稍微有点儿大。This jacket is slightly too big.
Usually followed by 一点儿 or 有点儿.
幸亏fortunately; luckilyAdverb4
幸亏你提醒我，不然我就忘了。Luckily you reminded me, or I would have forgotten.
差点儿almost; nearlyAdverb4
今天早上我差点儿迟到。I was nearly late this morning.
Of something that did not quite happen.
多亏thanks to; luckilyAdverb4
多亏邻居帮忙，我们才搬完家。Thanks to the neighbours' help, we managed to finish the move.
Close to 幸亏, and usually names who or what to thank.
起码at leastAdverb4
这件事起码要一个星期才能办完。This will take at least a week to sort out.
The colloquial 至少.
或许perhaps; maybeAdverb4
或许他已经知道了这件事。Perhaps he already knows about it.
More written than 也许.
的确indeed; trulyAdverb4
你说得对，这件事的确是我的错。You are right; this really was my fault.
的 is read dí here.
相当quite; fairly; considerablyAdverb4
这次考试相当难。This exam was pretty hard.
似乎seemingly; it seemsAdverb4
他似乎对这个结果不太满意。He seems not very happy with the result.
A more written 好像.
显然obviously; evidentlyAdverb4
他显然没有听懂我的意思。He obviously did not understand what I meant.
并not at all; actually not (before a negative)Adverb4
这道题并不难。This question is not actually difficult.
Stands before 不 or 没 to contradict what someone assumed.
格外especially; all the moreAdverb4
下过雨以后，空气格外新鲜。After the rain the air is especially fresh.
反而on the contrary; insteadAdverb4
吃了药以后，他的病反而更重了。After taking the medicine he got worse instead of better.
再三over and over; repeatedlyAdverb4
老师再三提醒我们别忘带证件。The teacher reminded us again and again not to forget our ID.
连忙hurriedly; at onceAdverb4
看到老人上车，他连忙让座。When he saw an elderly passenger get on, he quickly gave up his seat.
Only for telling what happened; a command takes 赶紧.
更加even moreAdverb4
听了他的解释，我更加不明白了。After his explanation I understood even less.
More written than 更.
务必be sure to; mustAdverb4
请务必在周五以前交表。Please be sure to hand in the form before Friday.
Formal; in notices and polite requests.
一向always (up to now); consistentlyAdverb4
他一向很准时，今天怎么还没来？He is always on time; why isn't he here yet today?
Of a long-standing habit that has held until now.
曾经once; at one time (in the past)Adverb4
我曾经在上海住过两年。I once lived in Shanghai for two years.
Usually with 过 after the verb.
始终all along; from start to finishAdverb4
不管别人怎么说，他始终相信自己。Whatever others said, he never stopped believing in himself.
至少at leastAdverb4
从这儿到机场至少要一个小时。It takes at least an hour from here to the airport.
不必need not; there is no needAdverb4
你不必担心，一切都安排好了。You needn't worry; everything has been arranged.
照样just the same; as beforeAdverb4
他感冒了，可是照样去上班。He had a cold but went to work all the same.
亲眼with one's own eyesAdverb4
这是我亲眼看到的，不会错。I saw it with my own eyes; there's no mistake.
With one's own ears is 亲耳.
独自alone; by oneselfAdverb4
她独自去欧洲旅行了一个月。She travelled around Europe on her own for a month.
反复repeatedly; over and overAdverb4
这个句子我反复读了好几遍。I read this sentence over and over again.
Also of an illness or a problem that keeps coming back.
接连in succession; one after anotherAdverb4
他接连三天都加班到很晚。He worked late three days in a row.
向来always; all alongAdverb4
他向来不喝酒。He has never been a drinker.
Close to 一向, a little more written.
难免bound to; hard to avoidAdverb4
刚到国外，难免会想家。When you have just arrived abroad, you are bound to feel homesick.
This list belongs to Thinking and arguing — eight lists and 320 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.