Formal Connectives and Written-Style Grammar: 然而, 从而, 并, 且, 然, 则

The previous article introduced the gap between spoken and written Chinese. This article goes deeper into the connective words that live almost exclusively on the written side of that gap. You will not hear most of these in casual conversation, but you will encounter them constantly in news articles, academic writing, formal reports, and official documents. Recognizing them and knowing their spoken equivalents is essential for reading Chinese at an advanced level.

然而: "however," with weight

然而 (rán'ér) is the formal written equivalent of 但是. It introduces a contrast or an unexpected turn, and it carries a slightly heavier, more considered tone than 但是. Where 但是 is neutral and conversational, 然而 signals that the writer is deliberately setting up a tension between two ideas.

• 这项政策初期受到广泛支持，然而实施过程中却遇到了重重阻力。(This policy initially received widespread support; however, in its implementation it encountered significant resistance.)
• 技术不断进步，然而贫富差距并未因此缩小。(Technology continues to advance; however, the wealth gap has not narrowed as a result.)

然而 almost always opens a new clause or sentence. It does not sit mid-clause the way 但是 sometimes can.

Its spoken equivalents are 但是 and 不过. If you are writing something formal and feel the urge to write 但是, consider whether 然而 better fits the register of the surrounding text.

从而: "thereby," "and thus"

从而 (cóng'ér) introduces a result or consequence that flows directly and logically from what was just stated. The sense is "by doing so" or "and thereby." It implies that the second thing is achieved through or by means of the first.

• 我们需要加强沟通，从而避免误解。(We need to strengthen communication, thereby avoiding misunderstandings.)
• 该项目降低了生产成本，从而提高了企业的竞争力。(The project reduced production costs, thereby improving the company's competitiveness.)

从而 is close in meaning to 因此 and 所以, but with an important nuance: 因此 simply states that B follows from A, while 从而 implies that B is achieved by means of A. The first thing is a mechanism or method; the second is the outcome it enables.

Its spoken equivalent is roughly 这样就能... (in this way, we can...) or simply 所以.

并: "and also," additive in formal writing

并 (bìng) is a compressed, single-character version of 并且. In written Chinese it joins two verb phrases belonging to the same subject, indicating that both apply simultaneously or in addition to each other.

• 委员会已审议并通过了该提案。(The committee has reviewed and approved the proposal.)
• 公司宣布并解释了这一决定。(The company announced and explained this decision.)
• 政府承诺加大投入，并推动相关政策落实。(The government pledged to increase investment and to push forward the implementation of relevant policies.)

并 in this role cannot be replaced by 和. 和 connects nouns; 并 connects verb phrases with the same subject in formal writing. In speech, you would either use 并且 or simply list the two verbs with no connective.

且: "moreover," "and furthermore"

且 (qiě) adds a second point that further supports or intensifies the first. In isolation it is a classical word. In modern formal writing it most often appears as part of compounds: 而且, 并且, 况且, 甚至. On its own, 且 is found in more literary or elevated contexts.

• 此事复杂，且涉及多方利益。(This matter is complex, and moreover involves the interests of multiple parties.)
• 该方案成本低廉，且操作简便。(This plan is low-cost and moreover easy to implement.)
• 况且，这并非第一次出现此类问题。(Furthermore, this is not the first time such a problem has arisen.)

且 on its own leans literary. 而且 and 并且 are more comfortable for most formal writing. But standalone 且 appears often enough in newspapers and essays that learners should recognize it without difficulty.

然: "like this," "however," a classical leftover

然 (rán) on its own is a classical word meaning "like this," "so," or "in this way." In modern Chinese it survives mainly in set compounds and formal phrases rather than as a standalone connective.

Common compounds worth knowing:

• 然后 (ránhòu) -- then, after that (this is everyday, not formal)
• 当然 (dāngrán) -- of course
• 虽然 (suīrán) -- although
• 既然 (jìrán) -- since, given that
• 然而 (rán'ér) -- however (covered above)

As a standalone word in literary or classical quotation contexts, 然 means "it is so" or "correct." You may encounter it in chengyu, classical quotations, or very formal writing: 不以为然 (to disagree, literally "not to regard it as so") is a common example that has carried into modern usage.

则: "then," "in that case," drawing a logical conclusion

则 (zé) is one of the most useful classical connectives that has stayed productive in modern formal writing. It introduces a logical consequence, contrast, or condition in a compressed way. It is roughly equivalent to 就 or 那么 but carries a more formal, often more precise feel.

Conditional or logical consequence:

• 若不加以解决，则问题将持续恶化。(If not addressed, the problem will continue to worsen.)
• 缺乏证据，则无法定罪。(Without evidence, a conviction is impossible.)

Contrast between two parallel clauses:

• 北方气候干燥，南方则潮湿多雨。(The north has a dry climate; the south, by contrast, is humid and rainy.)
• 前者注重效率，后者则强调公平。(The former emphasizes efficiency; the latter emphasizes fairness.)

This contrastive use is particularly common and elegant. 则 draws a clean parallel between two ideas and signals the contrast with economy. In speech you would say 但是 or 而 or just pause. In formal writing, 则 does the same work in a single character.

Reading these in the wild

When you encounter these words in a text, the key is knowing what they are doing structurally. Ask: is this introducing a contrast (然而, 则)? A consequence (从而, 因此)? An addition (并, 且)? Once you identify the logical role, the meaning of the sentence becomes much easier to parse even if surrounding vocabulary is unfamiliar.

A useful habit is to read editorial pages of Chinese newspapers such as 人民日报 or 南方周末 and underline these connectives as you go. The density of formal connectives in those texts is high, and recognizing them quickly will noticeably improve your reading speed.

Spoken equivalents at a glance

Formal written	Spoken equivalent	Role
然而	但是 / 不过	Contrast
从而	所以 / 这样就能	Result by means of
并	并且 / 还	Additive (verb phrases)
且	而且 / 并且	Moreover
然	(in compounds)	Classical remnant
则	就 / 那么 / 但是	Consequence or contrast

These words will not transform your spoken Chinese, but getting them solid unlocks a much wider range of reading material. News, essays, legal documents, academic papers, and formal correspondence all lean heavily on this layer of the language, and navigating it fluently is one of the real rewards of advanced study.