HSK 5 grammar · new HSK syllabus
毕竟, 反正, 简直, 居然: attitude adverbs
毕竟 = after all; 反正 = anyway; 简直 = simply, practically; 居然 = surprisingly.
Structure
- 毕竟 + reason
- 反正 + fact that makes it not matter
- 简直 + strong description
- 居然 + surprise
How it works
毕竟 gives an underlying fact that explains something: 别怪他，他毕竟是个孩子.
反正 says the outcome doesn’t change, so something doesn’t matter: 你别急，反正还有时间.
简直 exaggerates: 这简直是太好了 = this is simply fantastic.
居然, like 竟然, shows surprise: 他居然一个人做完了.
Examples
-
别批评他了，他毕竟还是个孩子。
Don’t criticise him; he is only a child after all.
-
你慢慢吃，反正我们不赶时间。
Take your time eating; we’re not in a hurry anyway.
-
这里的风景简直像画儿一样。
The scenery here is just like a painting.
-
他学了三个月，居然能看懂中文报纸了。
After three months of study, he can actually read Chinese newspapers.
-
毕竟是第一次，有点儿紧张很正常。
It’s the first time after all; it’s normal to be a bit nervous.
Words in these examples (40)
| 别 | bié | don't | HSK 2 |
| 批评 | pīpíng | to criticize; criticism | HSK 4 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 毕竟 | bìjìng | after all; all in all; when all is said and done | HSK 5 |
| 还是 | háishi | or (in questions); still; had better | HSK 2 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 慢 | màn | slow | HSK 2 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 反正 | fǎnzhèng | anyway; in any case; to come over from the enemy's side | HSK 5 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 赶 | gǎn | to hurry; to rush | HSK 4 |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | HSK 1 |
| 这里 | zhèlǐ | here | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 风景 | fēngjǐng | scenery; landscape | HSK 4 |
| 简直 | jiǎnzhí | simply; really | HSK 5 |
| 像 | xiàng | to look like; like | HSK 3 |
| 画 | huà | to draw; to paint; picture | HSK 2 |
| 一样 | yíyàng | the same | HSK 3 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 三 | sān | three | HSK 1 |
| 月 | yuè | month; moon | HSK 1 |
| 居然 | jūrán | unexpectedly; to one's surprise; go so far as to | HSK 5 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 懂 | dǒng | to understand | HSK 2 |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 报纸 | bàozhǐ | newspaper | HSK 3 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 第 | dì | (before a number) -th, as in 第一 "first" | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 次 | cì | time (occurrence), as in 三次 "three times" | HSK 2 |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | a little; somewhat | HSK 1 |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | nervous; tense | HSK 4 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 正常 | zhèngcháng | normal | HSK 4 |
Common mistakes
-
✗反正他是孩子，别怪他。（meaning “after all”）
✓他毕竟是孩子，别怪他。
“After all” is 毕竟; 反正 is “anyway”.
-
✗这简直很好。
✓这简直太好了。
简直 goes with strong, exaggerated descriptions.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他 是新来的，不熟悉情况。
2. 你去不去都行， 我是要去的。
3. 这么难的题，他 十分钟就做完了！