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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'to be surprised' with 惊讶 (jīngyà)

    Actions & Events
    Purpose & Reason

    Structure

    惊讶 + 于 + Cause

    Explanation

    The verb 惊讶 (jīngyà) means 'to be surprised' or 'to be astonished.' It is often followed by 于 to introduce the cause of surprise, forming the pattern 惊讶于 + reason. This structure emphasizes what specifically triggered the feeling of astonishment.

    Examples

    • 我惊讶于他居然能说一口流利的日语。

      Wǒ jīngyà yú tā jūrán néng shuō yì kǒu liúlì de Rìyǔ.

      I was surprised that he could speak fluent Japanese.

    • 大家都惊讶于这次考试的结果。

      Dàjiā dōu jīngyà yú zhè cì kǎoshì de jiéguǒ.

      Everyone was surprised by the results of this exam.

    • 她惊讶于老朋友突然出现在门口。

      Tā jīngyà yú lǎo péngyou tūrán chūxiàn zài ménkǒu.

      She was surprised that an old friend suddenly appeared at the door.

    Expressing 'to be surprised' with 惊讶 (jīngyà) | Chinese Grammar