<p>而……则……is a phase, meaning but. 则could be omitted without affect meaning. it's for emphasizing</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-22T04:51:07.657Z
2015-12-22T04:51:07.657Z
gcd0318
<p>The translation is "And Duanjian just standing by Nieli seriously.The original is 聂离观察了一下各处之后,走回了大厅的上首,坐在了叶修和叶朔的旁边,而段剑则是神情严肃地站在聂离的身边。
The meaning of the text is Nieli looked around,than back seat of the honor,besides Yexiu and Yesuo.And Duanjian just standing by him seriously. I  can't find a word in English to replace it.And 则是 are two words,则是 should be divided into 则  and 是.The vocabulary 则  is  a conjunction  which shows  the transition.Everyone sitting on their own seats and Duanjian standing.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-20T14:36:42.143Z
2015-12-20T14:36:42.143Z
user12299
<p>则是 can be transferred to but.</p>

<p>All people stand there to chat together but Xiaoming only seat there alone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-23T03:06:40.827Z
2015-12-23T03:06:40.827Z
Mike Wang
<p>You have to look at the whole sentence to understand:<br>
聂离观察了一下各处之后，走回了大厅的上首，坐在了叶修和叶朔的旁边，而段剑则是神情严肃地站在聂离的身边。</p>

<p>则是 contrasts the actions of 聂离 (he sat down next to the two Ye's), and 段剑 (he stood next to 聂离).  English might use a conjunction such as "while", or "on the other hand". </p>

<p>则是 is not really a conjunction, though.  It is more like what is sometimes called a "pseudo-cleft" sentence: "As for Duan Jian, what he did was to stand next to Nie Qin with a stern expression."</p>

<p>I don't think 而 is absolutely necessary here. If you don't use it though, I would probably put a period, rather than a comma.</p>

<p>This is a good example of how English and Chinese have different ways of linking compound sentences to form a narrative structure.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-20T13:50:08.530Z
I definitely thought that i was a conjunction. So I guess that "then is" is related either to the fact that it is a pseudo-cleft sentence either it is used in another context.
Lex
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-20T14:06:42.657Z
I think the 是 in 则是 is still a verb (a special verb, a "copula). Because of this, I wouldn't call it a conjunction. Notice that 则是 is very different from 但是.  但是 is a real conjunction.
wpt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-20T13:20:40.283Z
2015-12-20T13:20:40.283Z
wpt
<p>My vocabulary states that 则是 means: "then is".  However I don't understand how to translate the following sentence:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>而段剑<strong>则是</strong>神情严肃地站在聂离的身边。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I can translate it perfectly fine by omitting 则是, so not sure what does it add.
I was thinking, maybe it is a construct with 而...则是.</p>

<p>Ps: this is a sentence from the novel 妖神记，chapter 177.</p>

<meaning-in-context>
Meaning of 则是 in 而段剑则是神情严肃地站在聂离的身边
# Meaning of 则是 in 而段剑则是神情严肃地站在聂离的身边

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-20)

My vocabulary states that 则是 means: "then is". However I don't understand how to translate the following sentence:

> 而段剑**则是**神情严肃地站在聂离的身边。

I can translate it perfectly fine by omitting 则是, so not sure what does it add.
I was thinking, maybe it is a construct with 而...则是.

Ps: this is a sentence from the novel 妖神记，chapter 177.

**Tags:** meaning-in-context


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-12-20. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

You have to look at the whole sentence to understand:  
聂离观察了一下各处之后，走回了大厅的上首，坐在了叶修和叶朔的旁边，而段剑则是神情严肃地站在聂离的身边。

则是 contrasts the actions of 聂离 (he sat down next to the two Ye's), and 段剑 (he stood next to 聂离). English might use a conjunction such as "while", or "on the other hand".

则是 is not really a conjunction, though. It is more like what is sometimes called a "pseudo-cleft" sentence: "As for Duan Jian, what he did was to stand next to Nie Qin with a stern expression."

I don't think 而 is absolutely necessary here. If you don't use it though, I would probably put a period, rather than a comma.

This is a good example of how English and Chinese have different ways of linking compound sentences to form a narrative structure.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I definitely thought that i was a conjunction. So I guess that "then is" is related either to the fact that it is a pseudo-cleft sentence either it is used in another context.  
> **username_4**: I think the 是 in 则是 is still a verb (a special verb, a "copula). Because of this, I wouldn't call it a conjunction. Notice that 则是 is very different from 但是.  但是 is a real conjunction.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2015-12-22. Score: 2

而……则……is a phase, meaning but. 则could be omitted without affect meaning. it's for emphasizing


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-12-20. Score: 1

The translation is "And Duanjian just standing by Nieli seriously.The original is 聂离观察了一下各处之后,走回了大厅的上首,坐在了叶修和叶朔的旁边,而段剑则是神情严肃地站在聂离的身边。
The meaning of the text is Nieli looked around,than back seat of the honor,besides Yexiu and Yesuo.And Duanjian just standing by him seriously. I can't find a word in English to replace it.And 则是 are two words,则是 should be divided into 则 and 是.The vocabulary 则 is a conjunction which shows the transition.Everyone sitting on their own seats and Duanjian standing.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-12-23. Score: 0

则是 can be transferred to but.

All people stand there to chat together but Xiaoming only seat there alone.


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