然而

rán ér

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Conjunction Common

Definitions

1. however; yet; but

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item

虽然

suī rán

although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是[kě shì] or 但是[dàn shì] etc)

虽然 means 'although', often used in contrast with 然而.

Usage notes

Formality

然而 is a formal conjunction, more common in written Chinese than in casual speech.

Grammar

Guides that feature 然而

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2 guides

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

然而 and 而 for “However” and “Whereas”

Use 然而 to start a clause that goes against what came before, and 而 to set two different subjects side by side.

Reading: rán ér Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

Written-Style Connectors

Make essays, summaries, and formal notes flow more clearly.

Reading: rán ér Open guide

Example Sentences

2 shown

他学习很努力，然而成绩还是不太好。

He studies very hard, yet his grades are still not very good.

然而，現實並不一樣。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 5816151)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 然而

involuntary

happen unexpectedly

with a grunting sound it stops (idiom); to come to an end spontaneously (esp. of sound)

油然而生

yóu rán ér shēng

arising involuntarily (idiom); spontaneous

知其然而不知其所以然

zhī qí rán ér bù zhī qí suǒ yǐ rán

to know that it is so but not why it is so (idiom)

come trippingly

to recover speedily (idiom); to get better quickly

Child Words of 然而

and

correct

然而