”However“ in Chinese – 然而 rán‘ér

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 然而 rán’ér is a conjunction used to express contrast or a turning point, similar to “however” or “yet” in English. It’s often used in written or formal contexts to introduce a statement that contrasts with the previous one.

Structure

Statement 1 + 然而 rán’ér + Statement 2

Statement 2 presents information that contrasts with or is unexpected in relation to Statement 1.

外面wàimiàn看kàn起來qǐlái天氣tiānqì很hěn好hǎo， 然而rán’ér實際上shíjìshàng很hěn冷lěng外面wàimian看kàn起来qǐlái天气tiānqì很hěn好hǎo， 然而rán’ér实际上shíjìshang很hěn冷lěng
It looks nice outside; however, it’s actually very cold.

下定決心xiàdìngjuéxīn要yào吃chī健康jiànkāng的de， 然而rán’ér路過lùguò蛋糕dàngāo店diàn時shí還是háishì忍不住rěnbúzhù下定决心xiàdìngjuéxīn要yào吃chī健康jiànkāng的de， 然而rán’ér路过lùguò蛋糕dàngāo店diàn时shí还是háishì忍不住rěnbúzhù
I was determined to eat healthy, but I still couldn’t resist when passing by a cake shop.

我wǒ很hěn累lèi， 然而rán’ér還是háishì睡不著shuìbùzháo我wǒ很hěn累lèi， 然而rán‘ér还是háishì睡不着shuìbùzháo
I’m really tired, yet I can’t fall asleep.

我wǒ本來běnlái打算dǎsuàn早點zǎodiǎn睡覺shuìjiào， 然而rán‘ér刷shuā了le半bàn小時xiǎoshí手機shǒujī後hòu， 我wǒ還是háishì繼續jìxù追劇zhuījù了le我wǒ本来běnlái打算dǎsuàn早点zǎodiǎn睡觉shuìjiào， 然而rán’ér刷shuā了le半bàn小时xiǎoshí手机shǒujī后hòu， 我wǒ还是háishì继续jìxù追剧zhuījù了le
I planned to go to bed early; however, after scrolling on my phone for half an hour, I ended up binge-watching shows instead.

我wǒ以為yǐwéi買mǎi了le健身房jiànshēnfáng會員huìyuán我wǒ就jiù會huì變biàn瘦shòu， 然而rán’ér半年bànnián過去guòqù了le， 我wǒ的de體重tǐzhòng一點yìdiǎn都dōu沒méi變biàn我wǒ以为yǐwéi买mǎi了le健身房jiànshēnfáng会员huìyuán我wǒ就jiù会huì变biàn瘦shòu， 然而rán‘ér半年bànnián过去guòqù了le， 我wǒ的de体重tǐzhòng一点yìdiǎn都dōu没méi变biàn
I thought buying a gym membership would make me lose weight; however, six months have passed and my weight hasn’t changed at all.

他tā說shuō今天jīntiān不會búhuì遲到chídào， 然而rán’ér我wǒ在zài咖啡廳kāfēitīng等děng了le他tā半小時bànxiǎoshí了le還沒háiméi到dào他tā说shuō今天jīntiān不会búhuì迟到chídào， 然而rán‘ér我wǒ在zài咖啡厅kāfēitīng等děng了le他tā半小时bànxiǎoshí了le还没háiméi到dào
He said he wouldn’t be late today; however, I’ve been waiting for him at the café for half an hour and he’s still not here.

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