继而

• Pinyin: jì ér
• Hanzi breakdown: 继 = 纟+ 㐄 (continuation); 而 = pictograph of beard (connective particle — used to link clauses in classical Chinese)

Meaning

Then; subsequently; after which. A formal conjunction indicating that an action or event follows immediately or logically from the previous one, describing sequential development.

Formal written Chinese. More literary than 然后 (then) or 接着 (next). Common in historical narrative, journalism, and academic writing to describe a chain of causally or temporally linked events.

Examples

1. 改革开放初期，沿海城市率先引进外资，继而带动了内地经济的整体腾飞。 In the early days of reform and opening up, coastal cities were the first to attract foreign investment, which in turn drove the overall economic takeoff of inland regions.
2. 他先是沉默良久，继而叹了口气，缓缓道出了心中压抑已久的苦衷。 He first fell silent for a long time, then let out a sigh and slowly spoke of the long-suppressed hardship in his heart.
3. 会议室内起初一片安静，继而爆发出热烈的讨论声，争论持续了整整两个小时。 The meeting room was quiet at first, and then it erupted into heated discussion that went on for a full two hours.

Usage Guide

Context: academic writing, journalism, narrative, history

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 这场思想解放运动先在知识界激起争鸣，继而逐渐扩展到社会各阶层，改变了整个时代的精神面貌。(This intellectual liberation movement first sparked debate in academic circles, then gradually spread to all social strata and changed the spiritual face of the whole era.)
• 实验数据起初很平稳，继而在第四组样本中出现明显偏差，团队随即高度重视并深入调查。(The experimental data were initially stable, then showed a clear deviation in the fourth group of samples, prompting the team to take it seriously and investigate in depth.)

Don't Say

• 继而 vs 然后 — 继而 is formal and literary, implying natural sequential development often used in written narratives; 然后 is colloquial and neutral. Do not use 继而 in everyday casual conversation

Origin & History

继 (to continue/follow) + 而 (connective particle linking clauses in classical Chinese)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal