然而 (rán'ér)

然而 is a formal conjunction meaning however, but, or nevertheless, used to introduce a contrasting statement.

Meanings

[conjunction] however; but; nevertheless; used to introduce a contrast or unexpected turn

Example Sentences

他努力工作，然而结果并不理想。 Tā nǔlì gōngzuò, rán'ér jiéguǒ bìng bù lǐxiǎng. He worked hard; however, the result was not ideal.

计划听起来不错，然而实施起来并不容易。 Jìhuà tīng qǐlái búcuò, rán'ér shíshī qǐlái bìng bù róngyì. The plan sounds good; however, it is not easy to implement.

这个方法被广泛使用，然而它也有明显的缺点。 Zhège fāngfǎ bèi guǎngfàn shǐyòng, rán'ér tā yě yǒu míngxiǎn de quēdiǎn. This method is widely used; however, it also has obvious drawbacks.

她很聪明，然而有时候过于自信。 Tā hěn cōngmíng, rán'ér yǒu shíhou guòyú zìxìn. She is very intelligent; however, she is sometimes overly confident.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
然而事实上	however, in reality
然而结果	however, the result
虽然...然而	although... however...
然而并不	however, not at all

Usage Notes

然而 is more formal and literary than 但是 (but) or 可是 (but/however). It appears primarily in written Chinese, academic essays, and formal speech. It typically begins a new clause or sentence and always marks a contrast with what came before.

Memory Hook

然 means "so/thus" and 而 means "yet/but": 然而 is "thus yet," the elegant pivot that says "things were going one way, yet now they turn."