Word

而 (ér) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

Meaning of 而

连 lián conjunction

and; but; yet

他聪明而勤奋。

tā cōng míng ér qín fèn

He is intelligent and diligent.

Word breakdown

而 ér — and; but; yet

1 而且 ér qiě — moreover HSK 3
- 而 connecting particle (and, but)
- 且 moreover, also (adds emphasis)
Example

她不仅会说中文，而且会说英文。

tā bù jǐn huì shuō zhōng wén ér qiě huì shuō yīng wén

She not only speaks Chinese, but also speaks English.
2 然而 rán ér — however HSK 4
- 然 so, thus (establishes a state or condition)
- 而 but, yet (provides contrastive conjunction)
Example

他很努力，然而结果并不理想。

tā hěn nǔ lì rán ér jié guǒ bìng bù lǐ xiǎng

He worked very hard, however the result was not ideal.
3 从而 cóng ér — thereby HSK 5
- 从 following from, proceeding from
- 而 and then, consequently
Example

公司改进了管理方法，从而提高了效率。

gōng sī gǎi jìn le guǎn lǐ fāng fǎ cóng ér tí gāo le xiào lǜ

The company improved its management methods, thereby increasing efficiency.
4 反而 fǎn ér — on the contrary HSK 5
- 反 opposite, contrary
- 而 conjunction emphasizing contrast
Example

他不但没有生气，反而笑了。

tā bù dàn méi yǒu shēng qì fǎn ér xiào le

He not only didn't get angry, but instead laughed.
5 因而 yīn ér — therefore HSK 5
- 因 cause, reason
- 而 connecting particle (links cause to effect)
Example

他生病了，因而没来上课。

tā shēng bìng le yīn ér méi lái shàng kè

He got sick, therefore he didn't come to class.

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6 进而 jìn ér — furthermore; and then HSK 6
- 进 to advance, to proceed
- 而 and then, and thus (connective)
Example

她完成了本科学业，进而攻读硕士学位。

tā wán chéng le běn kē xué yè jìn ér gōng dú shuò shì xué wèi

She completed her undergraduate studies, and then pursued a master's degree.
7 一概而论 yī gài ér lùn — to make sweeping generalizations; to lump together indiscriminately HSK 7
- 一 one; uniformly (treating things as one/the same)
- 概 generally; universally (in a general/sweeping manner)
- 而 and then; thereby (connecting the manner to the action)
- 论 to discuss; to judge (the action of evaluating or discussing)
Example

每个孩子都有自己的特点，不能一概而论。

měi ge hái zi dōu yǒu zì jǐ de tè diǎn bù néng yī gài ér lùn

Every child has their own characteristics; we cannot make sweeping generalizations.
8 不得而知 bù dé ér zhī — unknown HSK 7
- 不 not, negation marker
- 得 able to, can obtain
- 而 and thus, conjunctive particle
- 知 know, understand
Example

至于他为什么离开，我们不得而知。

zhì yú tā wèi shén me lí kāi wǒ men bù dé ér zhī

As for why he left, we don't know.
9 不约而同 bù yuē ér tóng — to happen to coincide; to agree by chance without prior consultation HSK 7
- 不 not, without
- 约 arrangement, agreement, appointment
- 而 yet, but (conjunction)
- 同 same, together, in unison
Example

听到这个消息，大家不约而同地鼓起掌来。

tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi dà jiā bù yuē ér tóng de gǔ qǐ zhǎng lái

Upon hearing the news, everyone spontaneously applauded at the same time.
10 不翼而飞 bú yì ér fēi — to disappear without a trace HSK 7
- 不 not, without
- 翼 wing, wings
- 而 and yet, but
- 飞 to fly
Example

我的钱包不翼而飞了。

wǒ de qián bāo bú yì ér fēi le

My wallet disappeared without a trace.
11 不言而喻 bù yán ér yù — self-evident HSK 7
- 不 not, without (negation)
- 言 to speak, words (verbal explanation)
- 而 yet, and (conjunction connecting contrasting ideas)
- 喻 to understand, to comprehend (grasp meaning)
Example

诚实的重要性不言而喻。

chéng shí de zhòng yào xìng bù yán ér yù

The importance of honesty is self-evident.
12 不辞而别 bù cí ér bié — to leave without saying goodbye HSK 7
- 不 not (negation)
- 辞 take leave, say goodbye
- 而 and then, but (conjunction connecting actions)
- 别 part, leave, separate
Example

他昨天不辞而别，谁也不知道他去了哪里。

tā zuó tiān bù cí ér bié shuí yě bù zhī dào tā qù le nǎ lǐ

He left without saying goodbye yesterday, nobody knows where he went.
13 似是而非 sì shì ér fēi — seemingly true but actually false HSK 7
- 似 to seem, to appear, to resemble
- 是 to be (correct/right)
- 而 but, yet (conjunction)
- 非 not, wrong, false
Example

这种似是而非的说法容易误导大众。

zhè zhǒng sì shì ér fēi de shuō fǎ róng yì wù dǎo dà zhòng

This kind of specious statement easily misleads the public.
14 侃侃而谈 kǎn kǎn ér tán — speak confidently and fluently HSK 7
- 侃 confident and forthright (when duplicated, emphasizes fluency)
- 侃 confident and forthright (duplication emphasizes fluency)
- 而 connective particle linking manner and action
- 谈 to speak, to talk
Example

面对记者的提问，他侃侃而谈，毫不紧张。

miàn duì jì zhě de tí wèn tā kǎn kǎn ér tán háo bù jǐn zhāng

Facing the reporters' questions, he spoke confidently and fluently, not nervous at all.
15 半途而废 bàn tú ér fèi — give up halfway HSK 7
- 半 half, midway
- 途 journey, road, process
- 而 and, yet (conjunction)
- 废 abandon,废弃
Example

学习语言不能半途而废，要坚持到底。

xué xí yǔ yán bù néng bàn tú ér fèi yào jiān chí dào dǐ

When learning a language, one cannot give up halfway; one must persist to the end.
16 取而代之 qǔ ér dài zhī — replace, take its place HSK 7
- 取 to take, to seize
- 而 and then, and (connects sequential actions)
- 代 to replace, to substitute
- 之 it, that (classical pronoun for what is replaced)
Example

手工劳动逐渐被机器取而代之。

shǒu gōng láo dòng zhú jiàn bèi jī qì qǔ ér dài zhī

Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machines.
17 可想而知 kě xiǎng ér zhī — it goes without saying HSK 7
- 可 can, possible
- 想 think, imagine
- 而 and then, thus
- 知 know, understand
Example

他连续工作了三天，疲劳程度可想而知。

tā lián xù gōng zuò le sān tiān pí láo chéng dù kě xiǎng ér zhī

He worked continuously for three days, so his level of fatigue goes without saying.
18 因人而异 yīn rén ér yì — vary from person to person HSK 7
- 因 because of, due to (introduces the varying factor)
- 人 person, people (the variable factor)
- 而 and thus, thereby (conjunction linking condition to result)
- 异 different, to differ (the resulting variation)
Example

学习方法因人而异，要找到适合自己的方式。

xué xí fāng fǎ yīn rén ér yì yào zhǎo dào shì hé zì jǐ de fāng shì

Learning methods vary from person to person; you need to find the approach that suits you.
19 总而言之 zǒng ér yán zhī — in summary HSK 7
- 总 overall, general (provides the summarizing aspect)
- 而 and (grammatical connector linking 'overall' to 'speaking')
- 言 to speak, words (indicates verbal expression)
- 之 it (classical particle completing the phrase)
Example

总而言之，学习中文需要耐心和努力。

zǒng ér yán zhī xué xí zhōng wén xū yào nài xīn hé nǔ lì

In summary, learning Chinese requires patience and effort.
20 扑面而来 pū miàn ér lái — come rushing at one; blow in one's face HSK 7
- 扑 rush toward; pounce
- 面 face; surface
- 而 and (connective particle)
- 来 come (toward the speaker)
Example

打开门，海风扑面而来。

dǎ kāi mén hǎi fēng pū miàn ér lái

Opening the door, the sea breeze blew in my face.
21 敬而远之 jìng ér yuǎn zhī — to respect but keep at a distance HSK 7
- 敬 to respect, to revere
- 而 but, yet (conjunction connecting respect and distance)
- 远 far, distant (to keep at a distance)
- 之 it, them (classical pronoun referring to the object being kept at distance)
Example

他对那些复杂的人际关系总是敬而远之。

tā duì nà xiē fù zá de rén jì guān xi zǒng shì jìng ér yuǎn zhī

He always maintains a respectful distance from those complex interpersonal relationships.
22 时而 shí ér — sometimes HSK 7
- 时 time; provides the temporal aspect
- 而 a conjunction particle; creates adverbial meaning of 'at times'
Example

天气时而晴朗，时而多云。

tiān qì shí ér qíng lǎng shí ér duō yún

The weather is sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy.
23 显而易见 xiǎn ér yì jiàn — obvious HSK 7
- 显 visible, evident, apparent
- 而 and, conjunction connecting two parts
- 易 easy, simple
- 见 to see, to perceive
Example

这个问题的答案显而易见。

zhè ge wèn tí de dá àn xiǎn ér yì jiàn

The answer to this question is obvious.
24 继而 jì ér — then, subsequently HSK 7
- 继 continue, follow in sequence
- 而 and then, thereupon (conjunction)
Example

天空乌云密布，继而下起了大雨。

tiān kōng wū yún mì bù jì ér xià qǐ le dà yǔ

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and then it started raining heavily.
25 而已 ér yǐ — that's all; nothing more; merely HSK 7
- 而 connecting particle (forms compound with 已)
- 已 stop, cease (indicates limitation)
Example

这只是个误会而已。

zhè zhǐ shì gè wù huì ér yǐ

This is just a misunderstanding, that's all.
26 脱口而出 tuō kǒu ér chū — to blurt out HSK 7
- 脱 to escape, slip away
- 口 mouth
- 而 and (connecting particle)
- 出 to come out, emerge
Example

他一紧张就把秘密脱口而出了。

tā yī jǐn zhāng jiù bǎ mì mì tuō kǒu ér chū le

When he got nervous, he blurted out the secret.
27 脱颖而出 tuō yǐng ér chū — to stand out HSK 7
- 脱 to break free, to shed
- 颖 sharp point (of an awl showing through)
- 而 connecting particle (and then)
- 出 to emerge, to come out
Example

她的才华让她在众多候选人中脱颖而出。

tā de cái huá ràng tā zài zhòng duō hòu xuǎn rén zhōng tuō yǐng ér chū

Her talent made her stand out among many candidates.
28 自然而然 zì rán ér rán — naturally; as a matter of course HSK 7
- 自 self; from within
- 然 so; in that way (first occurrence)
- 而 and; connecting particle
- 然 so; in that way (reinforcing repetition)
Example

时间长了，两个人自然而然就成了好朋友。

shí jiān cháng le liǎng gè rén zì rán ér rán jiù chéng le hǎo péng you

Over time, the two naturally became good friends.
29 轻而易举 qīng ér yì jǔ — effortless HSK 7
- 轻 light (not heavy)
- 而 and (conjunction)
- 易 easy
- 举 to lift, to raise
Example

对他来说，解决这个问题轻而易举。

duì tā lái shuō jiě jué zhè ge wèn tí qīng ér yì jǔ

For him, solving this problem is effortless.
30 锲而不舍 qiè ér bù shě — persistent; to persevere unrelentingly HSK 7
- 锲 to carve; represents continuous effort
- 而 and; conjunction linking the action with not stopping
- 不 not; negation indicating the absence of giving up
- 舍 to give up; what is not done in perseverance
Example

他锲而不舍地学习中文，终于通过了考试。

tā qiè ér bù shě de xué xí zhōng wén zhōng yú tōng guò le kǎo shì

He persistently studied Chinese and finally passed the exam.

Structure & writing

1 而 ér — conjunction linking verbs, adjectives, or clauses: ① connecting successive elements ② connecting complementary affirmative and negative elements ③ connecting contrasting elements (adversative) ④ connecting causally related elements

而 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 3

需 xū to need, to require

HSK 4

耐 nài to endure; to withstand; to bear

HSK 7

耍 shuǎ to play; to have fun

而 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

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Meaning of 而

而 ér — and; but; yet