Dangran (当然): Of course in Chinese

当然

dāngrán

Of course

Character breakdown

当

to be equal to

dāng

然

rán

Grammar and structure

当然 is a compound of 当 (dāng, "to be equal to") and 然 (rán, "so"), together meaning "naturally" or "of course."

Variations and politeness

当然可以

dāngrán kěyǐ

Of course you can. — More polite and explicit.

当然啦

dāngrán la

Of course! — More casual and colloquial.

Mini dialogue

你能帮我吗？

Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?

Can you help me?

当然！

Dāngrán!

Of course!

When to use it

Appropriate

When you want to strongly agree with someone.
When you want to say that something is obvious or natural.
When you want to give permission or confirm something without hesitation.

Avoid when

When you only mildly agree or want to say 'maybe'.
When you want to say 'yes' in a neutral way without emphasis; English speakers often overuse 'of course' where a simple 'yes' would be more appropriate.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say 'of course' in Chinese?

You say 当然 (dāngrán). It means 'of course' or 'naturally' and is used to agree strongly or state something obvious.

How do you pronounce 当然?

It is pronounced dāngrán. The first syllable has a high, level tone, and the second syllable rises.

When do you use 当然?

Use 当然 when you strongly agree, give permission, or say something is obvious. Avoid using it for a simple 'yes' unless you want to emphasize certainty.