Chinese Connecting Components

Grammar Point:
而 ér, 同 tóng, and 與与 yǔ are three connectors commonly seen in formal or written Chinese. They are used to link words, phrases, or clauses. These connectors are rarely used in everyday spoken language and are typically found in settings such as news reports, official documents, speeches, and academic writing.

而 ér – but, and, yet

而 ér is a connector often used in formal or written Chinese. It can show contrast or transition, similar to “but” or “yet,” and can also indicate continuation or coordination, like “and” or “and also.”

他tā聰明cōngmíng而ér努力nǔlì他tā聪明cōngmíng而ér努力nǔlì
He is smart and hardworking.

我wǒ的de媽媽māma是shì一yí位wèi美麗měilì而ér堅強jiānqiáng的de人rén我wǒ的de妈妈māma是shì一yí位wèi美丽měilì而ér坚强jiānqiáng的de人rén
My mom is a beautiful and strong woman.

他tā努力nǔlì工作gōngzuò， 而ér她tā則zé選擇xuǎnzé放棄fàngqì他tā努力nǔlì工作gōngzuò， 而ér她tā则zé选择xuǎnzé放弃fàngqì
He worked hard, while she chose to give up.

他tā很hěn安靜ānjìng， 而ér她tā非常fēicháng外向wàixiàng他tā很hěn安静ānjìng， 而ér她tā非常fēicháng外向wàixiàng
He is very quiet, while she is very outgoing.

我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān安靜ānjìng的de環境huánijìng， 而ér不是búshì吵雜chǎozá的de地方dìfāng我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan安静ānjìng的de环境huánjìng， 而ér不是búshì吵杂chǎozá的de地方dìfang
I like quiet places, but not noisy ones.

同 tóng – with

同 tóng is similar in meaning to 跟 gēn or 和 hé, often translating to “with” or indicating shared action. However, it carries a more formal or literary tone and is more commonly used in written Chinese, especially in legal or official documents.

小明xiǎomíng同tóng他tā的de表哥biǎogē一起yìqǐ去qù參加cānjiā夏令營xiàlìngyíng小明xiǎomíng同tóng他tā的de表哥biǎogē一起yìqǐ去qù参加cānjiā夏令营xiàlìngyíng
Xiaoming went to summer camp together with his cousin.

他tā同tóng我wǒ住zhù在zài同tóng一yí棟dòng大樓dàlóu他tā同tóng我wǒ住zhù在zài同tóng一yí栋dòng大楼dàlóu
He lives in the same building as I do.

他tā曾céng同tóng多duō位wèi專家zhuānjiā學者xuézhě共同gòngtóng撰寫zhuànxiě政策zhèngcè報告bàogào他tā曾céng同tóng多duō位wèi专家zhuānjiā学者xuézhě共同gòngtóng撰写zhuànxiě政策zhèngcè报告bàogào
He has co-authored policy reports with several experts and scholars.

本běn公司gōngsī同tóng貴guì單位dānwèi已yǐ簽署qiānshǔ合作hézuò協議xiéyì本běn公司gōngsī同tóng贵guì单位dānwèi已yǐ签署qiānshǔ合作hézuò协议xiéyì
Our company has signed a cooperation agreement with your organization.

公司gōngsī同tóng工會gōnghuì展開zhǎnkāi第二dìèr輪lún薪資xīnzī協商xiéshāng公司gōngsī同tóng工会gōnghuì展开zhǎnkāi第二dìèr轮lún薪资xīnzī协商xiéshāng
The company has begun a second round of salary negotiations with the labor union.

📌 Use 同 tóng when talking about doing something together (e.g., travel, talk, study).

與与 yǔ – and, with, together with

與与 yǔ is a formal connector often used in written Chinese, such as in news reports, official documents, and academic writing. It can mean “and” when listing items, or “with” when expressing companionship or shared involvement. In some cases, it can also be used in contrastive structures, similar to 而 ér, to show comparison or opposition. Its literary tone makes it less common in everyday spoken Chinese.

我wǒ與yǔ他tā是shì大學dàxué同學tóngxué我wǒ与yǔ他tā是shì大学dàxué同学tóngxué
He and I were classmates in college.

這zhè本běn書shū的de主題zhǔtí與yǔ環保háibǎo有關yǒuguān这zhè本běn书shū的de主题zhǔtí与yǔ环保háibǎo有关yǒuguān
The theme of this book is related to environmental protection.

她tā與yǔ父母fùmǔ的de關係guānxī很hěn親密qīnmì她tā与yǔ父母fùmǔ的de关系guānxi很hěn亲密qīnmì
She has a close relationship with her parents.

公司gōngsī與yǔ當地dāngdì學校xuéxiào合作hézuò辦bàn活動huódòng公司gōngsī与yǔ当地dāngdì学校xuéxiào合作hézuò办bàn活动huódòng
The company is collaborating with local schools to organize events.

成功chénggōng與yǔ努力nǔlì往往wǎngwǎng是shì分fēn不bù開kāi的de成功chénggōng与yǔ努力nǔlì往往wǎngwǎng是shì分fēn不bu开kāi的de
Success and hard work often go hand in hand.

📌 Use 與与 yǔ when talking about relationships, cooperation, or contrast.