既然...
Reach for 既然 when a fact is already on the table and you want to draw the obvious next step from it — 'since X is true, then Y.' It's the Chinese way of saying 'now that we've established this, let's act on it.' Common in arguments, decisions, and persuasion. The fact in the 既然 clause is treated as something both speakers already accept; the second clause is what should logically follow. Pair it with 那(么)/就 for the cleanest version.
Structure
既然 [ACCEPTED FACT], 就/那么 [LOGICAL RESULT]
jìrán... jiù/nàme...
How to Think About It
既然 is not 'because.' 因为 introduces a cause the listener may not know yet; 既然 introduces a fact both sides already agree on. Think of 既然 as the speaker saying 'given that we both know X — here's what we should do.' That's why 既然 sentences almost always sound like a conclusion, a decision, or a piece of advice, not a neutral explanation.
Examples
既然你不喜欢这份工作, 就换一个吧。
Jìrán nǐ bù xǐhuān zhè fèn gōngzuò, jiù huàn yīgè ba.
Since you don't like this job, just switch to another one.
既然大家都到了, 我们就开始开会吧。
Jìrán dàjiā dōu dào le, wǒmen jiù kāishǐ kāihuì ba.
Since everyone is here, let's go ahead and start the meeting.
既然他已经道歉了, 你就原谅他吧。
Jìrán tā yǐjīng dàoqiàn le, nǐ jiù yuánliàng tā ba.
Since he's already apologized, just forgive him.
Common Mistake
Learners use 既然 the way they use 因为, putting it in front of any reason. But 既然 only works when the fact is already shared or established — not when you're introducing new information. The other half (就/那么) is also often dropped, which leaves the sentence sounding incomplete.
既然我很累, 我没去上班。
既然你已经决定了, 那么就别再后悔了。
Don't Confuse With
因为...所以...
因为 introduces new cause-and-effect information. 既然 assumes the reason is already known. Use 因为 to explain why; use 既然 to draw a conclusion from something already accepted.
如果...就...
如果 is hypothetical — the condition may or may not be true. 既然 treats the condition as a settled fact. 'If you're going' = 如果你去; 'since you're (already) going' = 既然你要去.
由于...
由于 is the formal, written cousin of 因为 — used in news and essays. 既然 is conversational and persuasive. They share a vague 'because' translation but feel completely different.
Practice
___ 你来了, 就多坐一会儿吧。
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既然
既然下雨了, 我们 ___ 别出去了。
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就
Put in order: [决定 / 就 / 既然 / 你 / 别 / 后悔 / 了 / 了]
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既然你决定了, 就别后悔了。
Translate to Chinese: 'Since you've already paid, just take it.'
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既然你已经付钱了, 就拿走吧。
Write one sentence giving advice based on an established fact, using 既然...就....
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Example answer: 既然你想学中文, 就每天练习一点吧。 (Since you want to learn Chinese, practice a bit every day.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: