当とう然ぜん

と

う

ぜ

ん

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

Describes something that is expected, appropriate, or justified under the circumstances. Used as a な-adjective or with の to modify nouns.

彼かれが怒おこるのは当とう然ぜんだ。
It's natural that he gets angry.
当とう然ぜんの結けっ果かだと思おもう。
I think it's a deserved outcome.

adverb

naturally; of course; as a matter of course

Adverbial use indicating that something happens or is true as expected, without surprise. Often used at the beginning of a sentence or before a verb.

当とう然ぜん、彼かれはそのことを知しっていた。
Naturally, he knew about it.
当とう然ぜんのことながら、準じゅん備びは必ひつ要ようだ。
As a matter of course, preparation is necessary.

See all 119 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は当とう然ぜんだit's only natural/reasonable that ~
彼かれが怒おこるのは当とう然ぜんだ。
It's only natural that he's angry.
〈動どう詞し〉て当とう然ぜんだit's natural/reasonable to ~
そんなことをしたら怒おこられて当とう然ぜんだ。
If you do something like that, it's only natural you'd get scolded.
当とう然ぜん〈動どう詞し〉naturally, of course (something happens)
当とう然ぜん、彼かれはその仕し事ごとを引ひき受うけた。
Naturally, he took on the job.
当とう然ぜんのように〈動どう詞し〉as though it were only natural, as a matter of course
彼かれは当とう然ぜんのように遅ち刻こくしてきた。
He showed up late as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Expressions

理りの当とう然ぜんstanding to reason; natural; only natural
当とう然ぜんながらnaturally; of course; understandably
当とう然ぜんのことa matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
当とう然ぜんの報むくいjust deserts; comeuppance; what one deserves
当とう然ぜんのことながらnaturally; not surprisingly; understandably; as a matter of course

Grammar

て当とう然ぜんだ・のも当とう然ぜんだonly natural; of courseN2

Kanji

当hit, right, appropriate
然sort of thing, so, if so
前in front, before

Related words· 9

当あたり前まえN3sense 1
当たり前 is the colloquial way to say something is obvious or taken for granted, while 当然 sounds slightly more formal and stresses logical or moral justification.
もちろんN5sense 2
もちろん is a casual way to say 'of course' in conversation, while 当然 (adverbial use) carries a stronger sense of inevitability or moral necessity.
必ひつ然ぜんN1sense 1
必然 describes something logically or causally inevitable, whereas 当然 is broader and can describe what is simply fair, expected, or socially natural.
順じゅん当とう
当然 stresses that something is natural or obvious as a matter of course, while 順当 emphasizes a fair, expected outcome that follows logically from the circumstances.

Show 5 more

もっともN3
当然 stresses that something is obvious or a matter of course, while もっとも stresses that it is understandable or fair given the circumstances.
もとよりN1
当然 stresses that something is 'naturally to be expected', whereas 元より (sense 'of course') simply asserts it as obvious without that logical emphasis.
言いうまでもなく
当然 means 'naturally' or 'as a matter of course', focusing on logical expectation, while 言うまでもなく stresses that something is so obvious it need not be said.
自おのずとN1
自ずと describes an outcome emerging spontaneously over time, while 当然 stresses that something is logically or socially to be expected as a matter of course.
自じ明めいN1
当然 expresses that something is natural or expected, while 自明 focuses on something being self-evidently true without proof.

Opposites

不ふ当とうN1sense 1
不当 means unjust or undeserved, the opposite of 当然's sense of being proper or deserved.
意い外がいN3sense 2
意外 means unexpected or surprising, contrasting with 当然's sense of something happening exactly as expected.
思おもいがけないN2
当然 describes something natural or to be expected, the opposite of 思いがけない, which describes something unforeseen.

Don't confuse with

突とつ然ぜんN3
当然 (expected, natural) and 突然 (sudden, unexpected) look and sound alike due to their shared 然 ending but have nearly opposite meanings.
自し然ぜんN4
当然 shares the kanji 然 and sounds similar to 自然, but it means 'obvious' or 'as a matter of course' rather than 'natural' in the sense of the physical world or spontaneity.

Word family

当とう然ぜん視し
take for granted; regard as natural; see as a matter of course

Written forms

当とう然ぜんUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general use.
とうぜんUsage1%
当とう前ぜんUsage<1%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Ateji spelling; rarely used and not recommended for learners.

Etymology

Composed of 当 (hitting the mark, appropriate) and 然 (state, condition), literally 'the appropriate state'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination has long been used to express naturalness or inevitability.