Definitions
(adverb)
actually; unexpectedly; indeed
(verb)
to go so far as to
(verb)
to complete; to finish
About
The character "竟" originally conveyed the meaning of reaching an end or completion, with its early composition integrating "音" for sound and "儿" representing a person, suggesting the conclusion of an auditory act like music or speech. In its modern form, the character is structurally analyzed as comprising "立" positioned above "兄", a configuration that reflects its standardized orthography. Over time, its semantic range expanded from denoting a literal terminus to functioning as an adverb that introduces a counterexpectation, evident in contemporary usage such as in "竟然" where it conveys the sense of "actually" or "unexpectedly".
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
小男孩竟哭了。
你竟不知道这个故事？
我竟在这里遇到你。
他们竟完成了所有任务。
这场雨竟下了整整一天。
他竟敢在会议上反驳老板。
我们竟在这么短的时间内取得了成功。
尽管条件艰苦，他们竟坚持到了最后。