Meaning
当然 expresses agreement, affirmation, or that something is obvious or expected. It can stand alone as a response meaning 'of course!' or be used within sentences to mean 'naturally' or 'obviously.' The word conveys a sense that something is reasonable, logical, or should be taken for granted.
Usage
当然 is extremely common in both spoken and written Chinese. As a standalone response, it shows strong agreement (similar to 'definitely!' or 'absolutely!'). In sentences, it often appears at the beginning or before the main verb to emphasize that something is natural or expected. It's appropriate in both formal and casual contexts.
Examples
- 01你会说中文吗？当然会！? !Can you speak Chinese? Of course I can!
- 02这么贵的餐厅，菜当然很好吃。, .Such an expensive restaurant, the food is naturally delicious.
Characters
Common collocations
- 当然可以of course you can
- 当然不of course not
- 那当然that's for sure, naturally
Antonyms
Origin
当 originally means 'to match' or 'should be,' while 然 means 'thus' or 'so.' Together they literally mean 'should be so' or 'ought to be that way,' which evolved into the modern meaning of 'of course' or 'naturally.'