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ér
HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4

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Definitions

  1. 1. and
  2. 2. as well as
  3. 3. and so
  4. 4. but (not)
  5. 5. yet (not)
  6. 6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. 7. (indicates change of state)
  8. 8. (indicates contrast)

Example Sentences

1 shown
為藝術 藝術。
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 727778)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org.

Words Containing 而

露齿而笑
lù chǐ ér xiào

to grin

因孕而婚
yīn yùn ér hūn

(idiom) to marry because of an unplanned pregnancy

待价而沽
dài jià ér gū

to sell only for a good price (idiom)

傍户而立
bàng hù ér lì

to stand close to the door

怒目而视
nù mù ér shì

to glare at

不期而遇
bù qī ér yù

meet by chance

推而广之
tuī ér guǎng zhī

to apply sth more broadly

一蹴而就
yī cù ér jiù

to get there in one step (idiom); easily done

抵足而卧
dǐ zú ér wò

lit. to live and sleep together (idiom); fig. a close friendship

一扫而光
yī sǎo ér guāng

to clear off

锲而不舍
qiè ér bù shě

to chip away at a task and not abandon it (idiom); to chisel away at sth

适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ

(idiom) to refrain from going too far; to know when to stop

崛地而起
jué dì ér qǐ

lit. arising suddenly above the level ground (idiom); sudden emergence of prominent new feature

无疾而终
wú jí ér zhōng

to die peacefully

假而
jiǎ ér

if

等而下之
děng ér xià zhī

going from there to lower grades (idiom)

三思而行
sān sī ér xíng

think three times then go (idiom); don't act before you've thought it through carefully

比较而言
bǐ jiào ér yán

comparatively speaking

弦而鼓之
xián ér gǔ zhī

to put strings on the zither, then play it (line from a Ming dynasty text by 劉伯溫|刘伯温[liú bó wēn])

既而
jì ér

soon after

不患寡而患不均
bù huàn guǎ ér huàn bù jūn

do not worry about scarcity, but rather about uneven distribution (idiom, from Analects)

鞠躬尽瘁,死而后已
jū gōng jìn cuì , sǐ ér hòu yǐ

to bend to a task and spare no effort unto one's dying day (idiom); striving to the utmost one's whole life

及锋而试
jí fēng ér shì

lit. to reach the tip and try (idiom); to have a go when at one's peak

食言而肥
shí yán ér féi

lit. to grow fat eating one's words (idiom)

侃侃而谈
kǎn kǎn ér tán

to speak frankly with assurance

一望而知
yī wàng ér zhī

to be evident at a glance (idiom)

不欢而散
bù huān ér sàn

to part on bad terms

谑而不虐
xuè ér bù nüe4

to tease

过而能改,善莫大焉
guò ér néng gǎi , shàn mò dà yān

If one can change after making a mistake, there is nothing better (idiom)

概而言之
gài ér yán zhī

same as 總而言之|总而言之[zǒng ér yán zhī]

同日而语
tóng rì ér yǔ

lit. to speak of two things on the same day (idiom); to mention things on equal terms (often with negatives: you can't mention X at the same time as Y)

随遇而安
suí yù ér ān

at home wherever one is (idiom); ready to adapt

死而无悔
sǐ ér wú huǐ

to die without regret (idiom, from Analects)

因而
yīn ér

therefore

总而言之
zǒng ér yán zhī

in short

一闪而过
yī shǎn ér guò

to flash past

迎面而来
yíng miàn ér lái

directly

悬而未决
xuán ér wèi jué

pending a decision; hanging in the balance

大而无当
dà ér wú dàng

grandiose but impractical (idiom)

不翼而飞
bù yì ér fēi

to disappear without trace

广而告之广告公司
guǎng ér gào zhī guǎng gào gōng sī

China Mass Media International Advertising Corp

转而
zhuǎn ér

to turn to (sth else)

形而上学
xíng ér shàng xué

metaphysics

破门而入
pò mén ér rù

to break the door down and enter (idiom)

天网恢恢,疏而不漏
tiān wǎng huī huī , shū ér bù lòu

lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73)

接踵而来
jiē zhǒng ér lái

to come one after the other

望风而逃
wàng fēng ér táo

to flee at the mere sight of (idiom)

压而不服
yā ér bù fú

coercion will never convince (idiom)

不约而同
bù yuē ér tóng

to agree by chance (idiom); taking the same action without prior consultation

沐猴而冠
mù hóu ér guàn

lit. a monkey wearing a hat (idiom)

不怒而威
bù nù ér wēi

(idiom) to have an aura of authority; to have a commanding presence

不一而足
bù yī ér zú

by no means an isolated case

泛泛而谈
fàn fàn ér tán

to speak in general terms

一拥而入
yī yōng ér rù

to swarm in (of people etc) (idiom)

勉力而为
miǎn lì ér wéi

to try one's best to do sth (idiom)

蜂拥而至
fēng yōng ér zhì

to arrive in huge numbers

而言
ér yán

(typically preceded by 就…[jiù xx5] or 對…|对…[duì xx5] etc) as far as ... is concerned; speaking in terms of ...

学而优则仕
xué ér yōu zé shì

one who is successful in one's studies, can become an official (idiom)

继而
jì ér

then

失而复得
shī ér fù dé

to lose sth and then regain it (idiom)

全身而退
quán shēn ér tuì

to escape unscathed; to get through in one piece

进而
jìn ér

and then (what follows next)

甚而至于
shèn ér zhì yú

even

一拥而上
yī yōng ér shàng

to swarm around

一哄而散
yī hòng ér sàn

see 一哄而散[yī hōng ér sàn]

取而代之
qǔ ér dài zhī

to substitute for sb

甚而
shèn ér

even

而是
ér shì

rather

概而不论
gài ér bù lùn

fuzzy about the details

鱼贯而出
yú guàn ér chū

to file out; to walk out in a line

死而后已
sǐ ér hòu yǐ

until death puts an end (idiom); one's whole life

哀而不伤
āi ér bù shāng

deeply felt but not mawkish (idiom)

出淤泥而不染
chū yū ní ér bù rǎn

lit. to grow out of the mud unsullied (idiom)

有过之而无不及
yǒu guò zhī ér wú bù jí

not to be inferior in any aspects (idiom)

而立之年
ér lì zhī nián

the age of 30

有百害而无一利
yǒu bǎi hài ér wú yī lì

having no advantage whatsoever

显而易见
xiǎn ér yì jiàn

clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously

偶而
ǒu ér

occasionally

无一事而不学,无一时而不学,无一处而不得
wú yī shì ér bù xué , wú yī shí ér bù xué , wú yī chù ér bù dé

Study everything, at all times, everywhere. (Zhu Xi 朱熹[zhū xī])

而已
ér yǐ

that's all

华而不实
huá ér bù shí

flower but no fruit (idiom); handsome exterior but hollow inside

一蹴而得
yī cù ér dé

to get there in one step (idiom); easily done

得而复失
dé ér fù shī

to lose what one has just obtained (idiom)

周而复始
zhōu ér fù shǐ

lit. the cycle comes back to the start (idiom); to move in circles

一跃而起
yī yuè ér qǐ

to jump up suddenly

脱颖而出
tuō yǐng ér chū

to reveal one's talent (idiom)

临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网
lín yuān xiàn yú , bù rú tuì ér jié wǎng

better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish (idiom)

然而
rán ér

however; yet; but

似是而非
sì shì ér fēi

apparently right but actually wrong; specious (idiom)

闻风而动
wén fēng ér dòng

to respond instantly

直道而行
zhí dào ér xíng

lit. to go straight (idiom, from Analects); to act with integrity

兼而有之
jiān ér yǒu zhī

to have both (at the same time)

终而复始
zhōng ér fù shǐ

lit. the end comes back to the start (idiom); the wheel comes full circle

敬而远之
jìng ér yuǎn zhī

to show respect from a distance (idiom)

置之死地而后生
zhì zhī sǐ dì ér hòu shēng

place sb on a field of death and he will fight to live (idiom based on Sunzi's \The Art of War\ 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[sūn zǐ bīng fǎ]); to fight desperately when confronting mortal danger

一般而言
yī bān ér yán

generally speaking

不言而喻
bù yán ér yù

it goes without saying; it is self-evident

而后
ér hòu

after that

脱口而出
tuō kǒu ér chū

to blurt out; to let slip (an indiscreet remark)

戛然而止
jiá rán ér zhǐ

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

树欲静而风不止
shù yù jìng ér fēng bù zhǐ

lit. the trees long for peace but the wind will never cease (idiom)

夺门而出
duó mén ér chū

to rush out through a door (idiom)

斩而不奏
zhǎn ér bù zòu

to do sth and not report the fact (idiom)

何乐而不为
hé lè ér bù wéi

What can you have against it? (idiom)

故而
gù ér

therefore

铩羽而归
shā yǔ ér guī

to return in low spirits following a defeat or failure to achieve one's ambitions (idiom)

因人而异
yīn rén ér yì

varying from person to person (idiom); different for each individual

敬鬼神而远之
jìng guǐ shén ér yuǎn zhī

to respect Gods and demons from a distance (idiom); to remain at a respectful distance

抵足而眠
dǐ zú ér mián

lit. to live and sleep together (idiom); fig. a close friendship

心有余而力不足
xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú

the will is there, but not the strength (idiom)

坐而论道
zuò ér lùn dào
重足而立
chóng zú ér lì

rooted to the spot (idiom); too terrified to move

避而不
bì ér bù

to avoid (doing sth)

落荒而逃
luò huāng ér táo

to flee in defeat

疏而不漏
shū ér bù lòu

loose, but allows no escape (idiom, from Laozi 老子[lǎo zǐ]); the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape

欲速而不达
yù sù ér bù dá

see 欲速則不達|欲速则不达[yù sù zé bù dá]

鱼贯而入
yú guàn ér rù

to walk in in a line

温故而知新
wēn gù ér zhī xīn

to recall the past to understand the future

拂袖而去
fú xiù ér qù

to storm off in a huff (idiom)

如约而至
rú yuē ér zhì

to arrive as planned

而且
ér qiě

(not only ...) but also

相对而言
xiāng duì ér yán

relatively speaking

有百利而无一弊
yǒu bǎi lì ér wú yī bì

to have many advantages and no disadvantages

引而不发
yǐn ér bù fā

to pull the bow without shooting (idiom from Mencius); ready and waiting for action

霍然而愈
huò rán ér yù

to recover speedily (idiom); to get better quickly

一扫而空
yī sǎo ér kōng

to sweep clean

忽而
hū ér

suddenly

不谋而合
bù móu ér hé

to agree without prior consultation

秘而不宣
mì ér bù xuān

to keep sth secret

青出于蓝而胜于蓝
qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán

lit. the color blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than indigo (idiom)

不期而至
bù qī ér zhì

to arrive unexpectably

呼啸而过
hū xiào ér guò

to whistle past

法网灰灰,疏而不漏
fǎ wǎng huī huī , shū ér bù lòu

The net of justice is wide, but no-one escapes.

牵一发而动全身
qiān yī fà ér dòng quán shēn

lit. pulling a single hair makes the whole body move (idiom)

不得其门而入
bù dé qí mén ér rù

to be unable to get into (a house, an organization, a field of study, a particular type of career etc)

笑而不语
xiào ér bù yǔ

to smile but say nothing

全球而言
quán qiú ér yán

globally; worldwide

擦肩而过
cā jiān ér guò

to brush past; to pass by (sb)

拍案而起
pāi àn ér qǐ

lit. to slap the table and stand up (idiom); fig. at the end of one's tether

不速而至
bù sù ér zhì

to arrive without invitation

一发而不可收
yī fā ér bù kě shōu

to be impossible to stop once started

三思而后行
sān sī ér hòu xíng

think again and again before acting (idiom); consider carefully in advance

望而兴叹
wàng ér xīng tàn

to look and sigh

可望而不可即
kě wàng ér bù kě jí

in sight but unattainable (idiom)

良禽择木而栖
liáng qín zé mù ér qī

a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in (proverb)

席地而坐
xí dì ér zuò

to sit on the ground or the floor (idiom)

和衣而卧
hé yī ér wò

to lie down to sleep with one's clothes on

拾级而上
shè jí ér shàng

to walk slowly up a flight of steps (idiom)

日出而作,日入而息
rì chū ér zuò , rì rù ér xī

lit. to get up at sunrise and work until sunset (proverb)

幸而
xìng ér

by good fortune

言而无信
yán ér wú xìn

untrustworthy; not true to one's word

百足之虫死而不僵
bǎi zú zhī chóng sǐ ér bù jiāng

a centipede dies but never falls down

劳而无功
láo ér wú gōng

to work hard while accomplishing little

俄而
é ér

(literary) very soon

不得而知
bù dé ér zhī

unknown

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)

挺身而出
tǐng shēn ér chū

to step forward bravely

小学而大遗
xiǎo xué ér dà yí

to concentrate on trivial points while neglecting the main problem (idiom)

远道而来
yuǎn dào ér lái

to come from far away

从天而降
cóng tiān ér jiàng

lit. to drop from the sky (idiom)

一哄而散
yī hōng ér sàn

to disperse in confusion (idiom)

择善而从
zé shàn ér cóng

to choose the right course and follow it (idiom)

听其言而观其行
tīng qí yán ér guān qí xíng

hear what he says and observe what he does (idiom, from Analects); judge a person not by his words, but by his actions

分而治之
fēn ér zhì zhī

to divide and rule

来而不往非礼也
lái ér bù wǎng fēi lǐ yě

not to reciprocate is against etiquette (classical)

涸泽而渔
hé zé ér yú

see 竭澤而漁|竭泽而渔[jié zé ér yú]

学而不思则罔,思而不学则殆
xué ér bù sī zé wǎng , sī ér bù xué zé dài

To learn without thinking is confusing, to think without learning is dangerous (Confucius)

先天下之忧而忧,后天下之乐而乐
xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu , hòu tiān xià zhī lè ér lè

The first concern is affairs of state, enjoying the pleasure comes later. Quotation from essay On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记 by Song writer Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹[fàn zhòng yān]

退而求其次
tuì ér qiú qí cì

to settle for second best

冲口而出
chōng kǒu ér chū

to blurt out without thinking (idiom)

未可同日而语
wèi kě tóng rì ér yǔ

lit. mustn't speak of two things on the same day (idiom); not to be mentioned in the same breath

不寒而栗
bù hán ér lì

fig. to tremble with fear

铤而走险
tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn

to take a risk out of desperation (idiom)

一而再,再而三
yī ér zài , zài ér sān

again and again

敢怒而不敢言
gǎn nù ér bù gǎn yán

angry, but not daring to speak out (idiom); obliged to remain silent about one's resentment

不宣而战
bù xuān ér zhàn

open hostilities without declaring war

反其道而行之
fǎn qí dào ér xíng zhī

to do the very opposite

望而却步
wàng ér què bù

to shrink back; to flinch

从而
cóng ér
随之而后
suí zhī ér hòu

from that

公而忘私
gōng ér wàng sī

for the common good and forgetting personal interests (idiom); to behave altruistically

反而
fǎn ér

on the contrary; instead

博而不精
bó ér bù jīng

extensive but not refined (idiom); to know something about everything

王顾左右而言他
wáng gù zuǒ yòu ér yán tā

the king looked left and right and then talked of other things

不劳而获
bù láo ér huò

to reap without sowing (idiom)

掩面而泣
yǎn miàn ér qì

to bury one's head in one's hands and weep (idiom)

学而不厌
xué ér bù yàn

study tirelessly (idiom, from Analects)

知其不可而为之
zhī qí bù kě ér wéi zhī

to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)

一炮而红
yī pào ér hóng

to win instant success (idiom)

时而
shí ér

occasionally

席地而睡
xí dì ér shuì

to sleep on the ground (idiom)

知难而退
zhī nán ér tuì

lit. to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom)

言而有信
yán ér yǒu xìn

to speak and keep one's promise (idiom); as good as one's word

望而生畏
wàng ér shēng wèi

intimidate at the first glance (idiom); awe-inspiring

千里马常有,而伯乐不常有
qiān lǐ mǎ cháng yǒu , ér bó lè bù cháng yǒu

lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom)

倾耳而听
qīng ěr ér tīng

to listen attentively

不治而愈
bù zhì ér yù

to recover spontaneously (from an illness)

自上而下
zì shàng ér xià

top-down

以失败而告终
yǐ shī bài ér gào zhōng

to succeed through failure

油然而生
yóu rán ér shēng

arising involuntarily (idiom); spontaneous

疾驰而过
jí chí ér guò

to sweep past

迎刃而解
yíng rèn ér jiě

lit. (bamboo) splits when it meets the knife's edge (idiom)

死而不僵
sǐ ér bù jiāng

dead but showing no signs of rigor mortis

从一而终
cóng yī ér zhōng

faithful unto death (i.e. Confucian ban on widow remarrying)

群起而攻之
qún qǐ ér gōng zhī

the masses rise to attack it (idiom); Everyone is against the idea.

备而不用
bèi ér bù yòng

have sth ready just in case

相机而行
xiàng jī ér xíng

to act according to the situation (idiom)

堂而皇之
táng ér huáng zhī

overt

喜极而泣
xǐ jí ér qì

crying tears of joy (idiom)

曲肱而枕
qū gōng ér zhěn

lit. to use one's bent arm as a pillow (idiom)

空手而归
kōng shǒu ér guī

to return empty-handed

有百利而无一害
yǒu bǎi lì ér wú yī hài

to have many advantages and no disadvantages

竭泽而渔
jié zé ér yú

lit. to drain the pond to get at the fish (idiom)

一挥而就
yī huī ér jiù

to finish (a letter, a painting) at a stroke

瓢泼而下
piáo pō ér xià

(of rain) to fall heavily

仅此而已
jǐn cǐ ér yǐ

that's all; just this and nothing more

久而久之
jiǔ ér jiǔ zhī

over time

相机而动
xiàng jī ér dòng

to wait for the opportune moment before taking action (idiom)

不期然而然
bù qī rán ér rán

happen unexpectedly

翘足而待
qiáo zú ér dài

to expect in a short time (idiom)

量力而行
liàng lì ér xíng

to assess one's capabilities and act accordingly (idiom); to act within one's competence

下而上
xià ér shàng

bottom to top (of listing)

而今
ér jīn

now

简而言之
jiǎn ér yán zhī

in a nutshell

有备而来
yǒu bèi ér lái

to come prepared

半途而废
bàn tú ér fèi

to give up halfway (idiom); leave sth unfinished

不胫而走
bù jìng ér zǒu

to get round fast

说说而已
shuō shuō ér yǐ

nothing serious

具体而微
jù tǐ ér wēi

miniature

见难而上
jiàn nán ér shàng

to take the bull by the horns (idiom)

天网恢恢,疏而不失
tiān wǎng huī huī , shū ér bù shī

lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73)

说是一回事,而做又是另外一回事
shuō shì yī huí shì , ér zuò yòu shì lìng wài yī huí shì

see 說是一回事,做又是另外一回事|说是一回事,做又是另外一回事[shuō shì yī huí shì , zuò yòu shì lìng wài yī huí shì]

尽力而为
jìn lì ér wéi

to try one's utmost

听而不闻
tīng ér bù wén

to hear but not react (idiom); to turn a deaf ear

一饮而尽
yī yǐn ér jìn

to drain the cup in one gulp (idiom)

一带而过
yī dài ér guò

to skate around

危而不持
wēi ér bù chí

national danger, but no support (idiom, from Analects); the future of the nation is at stake but no-one comes to the rescue

惠而不费
huì ér bù fèi

a kind act that costs nothing

不得已而为之
bù dé yǐ ér wéi zhī

to have no other choice

不可同日而语
bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ

lit. mustn't speak of two things on the same day (idiom); not to be mentioned in the same breath

迎难而上
yíng nán ér shàng

to press on in the face of challenges

慕名而来
mù míng ér lái

to come to a place on account of its reputation (idiom); attracted to visit a famous location

量力而为
liàng lì ér wéi

to weigh one's abilities and act accordingly

投袂而起
tóu mèi ér qǐ

lit. to shake one's sleeves and rise (idiom)

合而为一
hé ér wéi yī

to merge together (idiom); to unify disparate elements into one whole

换而言之
huàn ér yán zhī

in other words

可望而不可及
kě wàng ér bù kě jí

in sight but unattainable (idiom)

翩然而至
piān rán ér zhì

come trippingly

满载而归
mǎn zài ér guī

to return from a rewarding journey

守一而终
shǒu yī ér zhōng

to be faithful to one's mate all one's life

人非生而知之者,孰能无惑
rén fēi shēng ér zhī zhī zhě , shú néng wú huò

Knowledge is not innate to man, how can we overcome doubt?

可想而知
kě xiǎng ér zhī

it is obvious that...

不辞而别
bù cí ér bié

to leave without saying good-bye

可一而不可再
kě yī ér bù kě zài

may be done once and once only; just this once

放之四海而皆准
fàng zhī sì hǎi ér jiē zhǔn

appropriate to any place and any time (idiom); universally applicable

厉目而视
lì mù ér shì

to cut sb a severe look (idiom)

决而不行
jué ér bù xíng

making decisions without implementing them

扬长而去
yáng cháng ér qù

to swagger off

平心而论
píng xīn ér lùn

to be honest, ...

轻而易举
qīng ér yì jǔ

easy

应运而生
yìng yùn ér shēng

to emerge to meet a historic destiny (idiom)

一哄而起
yī hōng ér qǐ

(of a group of people) to rush into action

逆流而上
nì liú ér shàng

to sail against the current

有感而发
yǒu gǎn ér fā

(idiom) to speak from the heart

尽欢而散
jìn huān ér sàn

to disperse after a happy time (idiom)

乘虚而入
chéng xū ér rù

to enter by exploiting a weak spot (idiom); to take advantage of a lapse

学而不厌,诲人不倦
xué ér bù yàn , huì rén bù juàn

study tirelessly, teach with endless enthusiasm (idiom, from Analects)

结伴而行
jié bàn ér xíng

to stay together (of a group)

自下而上
zì xià ér shàng

bottom-up

大而化之
dà ér huà zhī

careless

无功而返
wú gōng ér fǎn

to return without any achievement (idiom); to go home with one's tail between one's legs

倾巢而出
qīng cháo ér chū

the whole nest came out (idiom); to turn out in full strength

自然而然
zì rán ér rán

involuntary

背道而驰
bèi dào ér chí

to run in the opposite direction (idiom); to run counter to

视而不见
shì ér bù jiàn

to turn a blind eye to

吾生也有涯,而知也无涯
wú shēng yě yǒu yá , ér zhī yě wú yá

Life is short, learning is limitless

一概而论
yī gài ér lùn

to lump different matters together (idiom)

擦身而过
cā shēn ér guò

to brush past

扑面而来
pū miàn ér lái

lit. sth hits one in the face