然而 rán'ér however
however; yet; but
How to remember 然而: 然 however + 而 and yet = however.
Characters
How it is used
- However / yet, a formal contrastive connector - 他很努力，然而没有成功 (tā hěn nǔlì, rán'ér méiyǒu chénggōng) he tried hard, yet didn't succeed.
- More written/literary than 但是 (dànshì); it introduces a turn that defies expectation.
- Sits at the head of the second clause; heavier and more deliberate than the neutral 但是.
Example sentences
- 他来了，然而又走了。 Tā lái le, rán'ér yòu zǒu le.He came but then left.