然 (rán) — (bound form) right, correct (as in 不以为然); (bound form) so, then (as in 然后); (bound form) however, but (as in 然而)
Definition
然 is a literary/archaic bound form used in set phrases like 然后 ('then'), 然而 ('however'), and 不以为然 ('not consider right'). It never stands alone — always part of a compound.
bound form
rightcorrect (as in 不以为然)sothen (as in 然后)howeverbut (as in 然而)
Examples
- ，。Wǒ men xiān chī fàn, rán hòu qù sàn bù.We'll eat first, then go for a walk.
- ，。Tā hěn nǔ lì, rán ér méi chéng gōng.He worked hard, yet didn't succeed.
- 。Tā duì zhè ge jì huà bù yǐ wéi rán.He doesn't agree with this plan.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today
然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.
Appears in
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