然而 (rán ér) — however; yet; but in Mandarin
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#624 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
然而 is pronounced rán ér. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
tā hěn cōng míng, rán ér tā bù nǔ lì
He is smart, however he doesn't work hard
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 然而 mean?+
然而 (rán ér) means "however; yet; but" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 然而?+
然而 is pronounced rán ér. It uses the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 然而 in Mandarin?+
然而 is the #624 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 然而 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
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