ér

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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

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org.

Words Containing 而

一概而论
yī gài ér lùn

to lump different matters together (idiom)

不得而知
bù dé ér zhī

unknown

不约而同
bù yuē ér tóng

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

不翼而飞
bù yì ér fēi

to disappear without trace

不言而喻
bù yán ér yù

it goes without saying; it is self-evident

不辞而别
bù cí ér bié

to leave without saying good-bye

似是而非
sì shì ér fēi

apparently right but actually wrong; specious (idiom)

半途而废
bàn tú ér fèi

to give up halfway (idiom); leave sth unfinished

反而
fǎn ér

on the contrary; instead

取而代之
qǔ ér dài zhī

to substitute for sb

可想而知
kě xiǎng ér zhī

it is obvious that...

因人而异
yīn rén ér yì

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

因而
yīn ér

therefore

从而
cóng ér
扑面而来
pū miàn ér lái

lit. sth hits one in the face

敬而远之
jìng ér yuǎn zhī

to show respect from a distance (idiom)

时而
shí ér

occasionally

然而
rán ér

however; yet; but

相对而言
xiāng duì ér yán

relatively speaking

总而言之
zǒng ér yán zhī

in short

继而
jì ér

then

而且
ér qiě

(not only ...) but also

而已
ér yǐ

that's all

而是
ér shì

rather

脱口而出
tuō kǒu ér chū

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

脱颖而出
tuō yǐng ér chū

to reveal one's talent (idiom)

自然而然
zì rán ér rán

involuntary

轻而易举
qīng ér yì jǔ

easy

进而
jìn ér

and then (what follows next)

锲而不舍
qiè ér bù shě

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

显而易见
xiǎn ér yì jiàn

clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously

一哄而起
yī hōng ér qǐ

(of a group of people) to rush into action

一哄而散
yī hōng ér sàn

to disperse in confusion (idiom)

一带而过
yī dài ér guò

to skate around

一扫而光
yī sǎo ér guāng

to clear off

一扫而空
yī sǎo ér kōng

to sweep clean

一挥而就
yī huī ér jiù

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

一拥而上
yī yōng ér shàng

to swarm around

一拥而入
yī yōng ér rù

to swarm in (of people etc) (idiom)

一望而知
yī wàng ér zhī

to be evident at a glance (idiom)

一炮而红
yī pào ér hóng

to win instant success (idiom)

一发而不可收
yī fā ér bù kě shōu

to be impossible to stop once started

一而再,再而三
yī ér zài , zài ér sān

again and again

一般而言
yī bān ér yán

generally speaking

一蹴而就
yī cù ér jiù

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

一蹴而得
yī cù ér dé

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

一跃而起
yī yuè ér qǐ

to jump up suddenly

一闪而过
yī shǎn ér guò

to flash past

一饮而尽
yī yǐn ér jìn

to drain the cup in one gulp (idiom)

一哄而散
yī hòng ér sàn

see 一哄而散[yī hōng ér sàn]

三思而行
sān sī ér xíng

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

三思而后行
sān sī ér hòu xíng

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

下而上
xià ér shàng

bottom to top (of listing)

不一而足
bù yī ér zú

by no means an isolated case

不劳而获
bù láo ér huò

to reap without sowing (idiom)

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

不宣而战
bù xuān ér zhàn

open hostilities without declaring war

不寒而栗
bù hán ér lì

fig. to tremble with fear

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)

不得已而为之
bù dé yǐ ér wéi zhī

to have no other choice

不怒而威
bù nù ér wēi

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

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)

不期然而然
bù qī rán ér rán

happen unexpectedly

不期而至
bù qī ér zhì

to arrive unexpectably

不期而遇
bù qī ér yù

meet by chance

不欢而散
bù huān ér sàn

to part on bad terms

不治而愈
bù zhì ér yù

to recover spontaneously (from an illness)

不胫而走
bù jìng ér zǒu

to get round fast

不谋而合
bù móu ér hé

to agree without prior consultation

不速而至
bù sù ér zhì

to arrive without invitation

久而久之
jiǔ ér jiǔ zhī

over time

乘虚而入
chéng xū ér rù

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

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?

以失败而告终
yǐ shī bài ér gào zhōng

to succeed through failure

何乐而不为
hé lè ér bù wéi

What can you have against it? (idiom)

侃侃而谈
kǎn kǎn ér tán

to speak frankly with assurance

来而不往非礼也
lái ér bù wǎng fēi lǐ yě

not to reciprocate is against etiquette (classical)

俄而
é ér

(literary) very soon

假而
jiǎ ér

if

偶而
ǒu ér

occasionally

傍户而立
bàng hù ér lì

to stand close to the door

备而不用
bèi ér bù yòng

have sth ready just in case

倾巢而出
qīng cháo ér chū

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

倾耳而听
qīng ěr ér tīng

to listen attentively

仅此而已
jǐn cǐ ér yǐ

that's all; just this and nothing more

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]

全球而言
quán qiú ér yán

globally; worldwide

全身而退
quán shēn ér tuì

to escape unscathed; to get through in one piece

公而忘私
gōng ér wàng sī

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

具体而微
jù tǐ ér wēi

miniature

兼而有之
jiān ér yǒu zhī

to have both (at the same time)

出淤泥而不染
chū yū ní ér bù rǎn

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

分而治之
fēn ér zhì zhī

to divide and rule

勉力而为
miǎn lì ér wéi

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

劳而无功
láo ér wú gōng

to work hard while accomplishing little

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)

博而不精
bó ér bù jīng

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

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

厉目而视
lì mù ér shì

to cut sb a severe look (idiom)

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

反其道而行之
fǎn qí dào ér xíng zhī

to do the very opposite

可一而不可再
kě yī ér bù kě zài

may be done once and once only; just this once

可望而不可即
kě wàng ér bù kě jí

in sight but unattainable (idiom)

可望而不可及
kě wàng ér bù kě jí

in sight but unattainable (idiom)

合而为一
hé ér wéi yī

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

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)

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

呼啸而过
hū xiào ér guò

to whistle past

和衣而卧
hé yī ér wò

to lie down to sleep with one's clothes on

哀而不伤
āi ér bù shāng

deeply felt but not mawkish (idiom)

喜极而泣
xǐ jí ér qì

crying tears of joy (idiom)

因孕而婚
yīn yùn ér hūn

(idiom) to marry because of an unplanned pregnancy

坐而论道
zuò ér lùn dào
堂而皇之
táng ér huáng zhī

overt

压而不服
yā ér bù fú

coercion will never convince (idiom)

大而化之
dà ér huà zhī

careless

大而无当
dà ér wú dàng

grandiose but impractical (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)

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)

失而复得
shī ér fù dé

to lose sth and then regain it (idiom)

夺门而出
duó mén ér chū

to rush out through a door (idiom)

如约而至
rú yuē ér zhì

to arrive as planned

学而不厌
xué ér bù yàn

study tirelessly (idiom, from Analects)

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)

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)

学而优则仕
xué ér yōu zé shì

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

守一而终
shǒu yī ér zhōng

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

小学而大遗
xiǎo xué ér dà yí

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

崛地而起
jué dì ér qǐ

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

席地而坐
xí dì ér zuò

to sit on the ground or the floor (idiom)

席地而睡
xí dì ér shuì

to sleep on the ground (idiom)

平心而论
píng xīn ér lùn

to be honest, ...

幸而
xìng ér

by good fortune

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

China Mass Media International Advertising Corp

引而不发
yǐn ér bù fā

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

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])

形而上学
xíng ér shàng xué

metaphysics

待价而沽
dài jià ér gū

to sell only for a good price (idiom)

得而复失
dé ér fù shī

to lose what one has just obtained (idiom)

从一而终
cóng yī ér zhōng

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

从天而降
cóng tiān ér jiàng

lit. to drop from the sky (idiom)

心有余而力不足
xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú

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

忽而
hū ér

suddenly

怒目而视
nù mù ér shì

to glare at

惠而不费
huì ér bù fèi

a kind act that costs nothing

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

应运而生
yìng yùn ér shēng

to emerge to meet a historic destiny (idiom)

悬而未决
xuán ér wèi jué

pending a decision; hanging in the balance

戛然而止
jiá rán ér zhǐ

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

投袂而起
tóu mèi ér qǐ

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

抵足而眠
dǐ zú ér mián

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

抵足而卧
dǐ zú ér wò

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

拂袖而去
fú xiù ér qù

to storm off in a huff (idiom)

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

拾级而上
shè jí ér shàng

to walk slowly up a flight of steps (idiom)

挺身而出
tǐng shēn ér chū

to step forward bravely

接踵而来
jiē zhǒng ér lái

to come one after the other

推而广之
tuī ér guǎng zhī

to apply sth more broadly

掩面而泣
yǎn miàn ér qì

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

扬长而去
yáng cháng ér qù

to swagger off

换而言之
huàn ér yán zhī

in other words

择善而从
zé shàn ér cóng

to choose the right course and follow it (idiom)

擦肩而过
cā jiān ér guò

to brush past; to pass by (sb)

擦身而过
cā shēn ér guò

to brush past

放之四海而皆准
fàng zhī sì hǎi ér jiē zhǔn

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

故而
gù ér

therefore

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

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

斩而不奏
zhǎn ér bù zòu

to do sth and not report the fact (idiom)

既而
jì ér

soon after

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)

曲肱而枕
qū gōng ér zhěn

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

有备而来
yǒu bèi ér lái

to come prepared

有感而发
yǒu gǎn ér fā

(idiom) to speak from the heart

有百利而无一害
yǒu bǎi lì ér wú yī hài

to have many advantages and no disadvantages

有百利而无一弊
yǒu bǎi lì ér wú yī bì

to have many advantages and no disadvantages

有百害而无一利
yǒu bǎi hài ér wú yī lì

having no advantage whatsoever

有过之而无不及
yǒu guò zhī ér wú bù jí

not to be inferior in any aspects (idiom)

望而却步
wàng ér què bù

to shrink back; to flinch

望而生畏
wàng ér shēng wèi

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

望而兴叹
wàng ér xīng tàn

to look and sigh

望风而逃
wàng fēng ér táo

to flee at the mere sight of (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

概而不论
gài ér bù lùn

fuzzy about the details

概而言之
gài ér yán zhī

same as 總而言之|总而言之[zǒng ér yán zhī]

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)

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]

死而不僵
sǐ ér bù jiāng

dead but showing no signs of rigor mortis

死而后已
sǐ ér hòu yǐ

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

死而无悔
sǐ ér wú huǐ

to die without regret (idiom, from Analects)

比较而言
bǐ jiào ér yán

comparatively speaking

决而不行
jué ér bù xíng

making decisions without implementing them

沐猴而冠
mù hóu ér guàn

lit. a monkey wearing a hat (idiom)

油然而生
yóu rán ér shēng

arising involuntarily (idiom); spontaneous

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.

泛泛而谈
fàn fàn ér tán

to speak in general terms

涸泽而渔
hé zé ér yú

see 竭澤而漁|竭泽而渔[jié zé ér yú]

温故而知新
wēn gù ér zhī xīn

to recall the past to understand the future

满载而归
mǎn zài ér guī

to return from a rewarding journey

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])