然后

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

含义

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.

例句

1. 我先吃早饭，然后去上班。
2. 你先写作业，然后可以看电视。
3. 他洗了手，然后开始吃饭。

用法指南

语境: narration, instructions, everyday conversation

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal