然后

• Pinyin: rán hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 然 = 月 (flesh) + 犬 (dog) + 灬 (fire) — originally meant to burn; 后 = simplified form of 後, meaning after/behind

Meaning

Then; after that; afterwards. Used to indicate what happens next in a sequence of events.

One of the most frequently used conjunctions in spoken and written Chinese. Connects two actions or events in chronological order. Often used at the beginning of a clause. In casual speech, 然后 can be overused as a filler word, similar to 'and then' in English.

Examples

1. 我先吃早饭，然后去上班。 I eat breakfast first, then go to work.
2. 你先写作业，然后可以看电视。 Finish your homework first, then you can watch TV.
3. 他洗了手，然后开始吃饭。 He washed his hands and then started eating.

Usage Guide

Context: narration, instructions, everyday conversation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 先坐地铁，然后换公交车。(First take the subway, then transfer to a bus.)
• 我们吃了晚饭，然后去散步。(We had dinner and then went for a walk.)

Don't Say

• 不要每句话都说然后 (Don't start every sentence with 然后 — overusing it as a filler sounds repetitive; vary with 接着, 之后, or just omit it)

Origin & History

然 (rán, so/like that) + 后 (hòu, after). Originally a literary construction meaning 'after being so,' it became a standard conjunction for sequential events.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal