<p>From Pleco dictionary: 而 can also before a verb to connect an adverbial element.</p>
<p>E.g.</p>
<p>语言是随着社会发展而发展的。</p>
<p>Language develops as society develops.</p>
<p>这本书就是基于这种原则而编写的</p>
<p>This book was written based on this kind of principle</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-02-19T04:12:35.010Z
2024-02-20T07:21:36.780Z
2024-02-20T07:21:36.780Z
thedoctar
<p>In <strong>MOST</strong> case, "而" have <strong>NO ANY</strong> meaning</p>

<p>Sometime, "而" is short version of "然而(but)","而且(and)","反而(instead)"...etc</p>

<p>at these time, word's meaning comes from "然","且","反".</p>

<p>"而" still <strong>NO</strong> meaning.</p>

<p>It just for padding word.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-23T12:08:34.990Z
I think you have a point. Language is very redundant and I think it could be that this word sometimes is used to simply mark the verb and make the language clearer. "Padding." Thank you.
daniel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-02-20T07:22:51.073Z
But in the case where it is before a verb, it links an adverbial element to the verb.
thedoctar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-23T08:14:13.710Z
2013-08-23T08:14:13.710Z
GongT
<p>Tried to figure out what you mean:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>他應我的請求而來</p>

<p>Ta1 ying2 wo3 de0 qing3 qiu2 er2 lai2 (He came at my request.)</p></li>
<li><p>...對面而坐...</p>

<p>...dui4 mian4 er2 zuo4...(sitting opposite each other)</p></li>
<li><p>...不告而去...</p>

<p>...bu2 gao4 er2 qu4...(French leave)</p></li>
<li><p>...一帶而過...</p>

<p>...yi2 dai4 er2 guo4... (skimming)</p></li>
<li><p>...掩鼻而過...</p>

<p>...yan3 bi2 er2 guo4...(hold one's nose and leave)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>而 gives us a sense of 韻律, without it, these sentences would become a little blunt, though still possible to be understood.</p>

<p>又如 孔氏 論語 學而 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎 「學而時習之」中 「而」字當作繫聯之意 可有遞進之感 然「人不知 而不慍」中 「而」當講反襯 對立之意</p>

<p>Translation:</p>

<p>So let's look at another example, from a famous text 論語 written by students of 孔氏 aka Confucius (551–479 BC), which goes like this: 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎. The first 而, in '學而時習之' (xue2 er2 shi2 xi2 zhi1, which means 'learn something and, in the meanwhile, you go over once in a while') shows us 而 with a sense of 'connection', though a little increase here, because you learn it, good, and going over it, em, even nicer.</p>

<p>In the second instance, in '人不知 而不慍' (ren2 bu4 zhi1 er2 bu2 yun4, which means that 'others people offend you because that they did not know you well, but you keep it very gentle, didn't get mad about them') so here '而' gives a sense of U-turn.</p>

<hr>

<h2>Update - Explanation in <a href="http://dictionary.sanseido-publ.co.jp/dicts/foreign/dccj3/" rel="nofollow">a Japanese Dictionary</a></h2>

<p>Through <a href="http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/cj/6498/m0u/%E8%80%8C/" rel="nofollow">the eyes from some Japanese</a>, hope it'll help foreigners understand 而 better. Here I translate the parts that are related to our question:</p>

<p>[接] = conjuction</p>

<ol>
<li><p>(Original Japanese Explanation) 並列関係を表わす = (My English Translation) Gives a plain list</p>

<p>(Example) 真實而感人</p>

<p>(Pinyin) zhēn shí ér gǎn rén</p>

<p>(Pinyin, another version) zhen1 shi2 er2 gan3 ren2</p>

<p>(注音)ㄓㄣ ㄕˊ ㄦˊ ㄍㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ</p>

<p>(Original Japanese Translation) 真実にして感動的 = (My English Translation) Real. Touching.</p>

<p>Note: 真實, real, adjective. 感人, moving, touching, adjective.</p></li>
<li><p>相反する関係を表わす = Juxtapose two things with opposite meaning</p>

<p>艷而不俗</p>

<p>yàn ér bù sú</p>

<p>yan4 er2 bu4 su2</p>

<p>ㄧㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄨˊ</p>

<p>派手だが俗っぽくない = Gorgeous, but not in a mundane manner</p>

<p>Note: If you remove 而,  艷不俗 is rare, though maybe possible, not as common as 艷而不俗. 艷, gorgeous, adjective. 俗, mundane, adjective. 不 gives negative to the adjective following.</p></li>
<li><p>さらに一歩進めた関係を表わす = Shows further step</p>

<p>取而代之</p>

<p>qǔ ér dài zhī</p>

<p>qu3 er3 dai4 zhi1</p>

<p>ㄑㄩˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄓ</p>

<p>とって代わる = Replace it</p>

<p>Note: If you remove 而, it gives 取代之, still meaningful though not as common as 取而代之. 取, pick, verb. 代, replace, verb. 之, it, pronoun.</p></li>
<li><p>原因・目的を示す語句を動詞につなぐ</p>

<p>為勝利而奮鬥</p>

<p>wèi shèng lì ér fèn dòu</p>

<p>wei4 sheng4 li4 er2 fen4 dou4</p>

<p>ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄈㄣˋ ㄉㄡˋ</p>

<p>勝利のために奮闘する = Fight for victory</p>

<p>Note: 為, for, preposition. 勝利, victory, noun. 奮鬥, hard working, noun.</p></li>
<li><p>仮定を表わす = Gives an "if…"</p>

<p>理論而不與實踐相結合...</p>

<p>lǐ lùn ér bù yǔ shí jiàn xiāng jié hé</p>

<p>li3 lun4 er3 bu4 yu3 shi2 jian4 xiang1 jie2 he2</p>

<p>ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄏㄜˊ</p>

<p>理論がもし実践と結びつかないなら… = Work on theory without practical proof</p>

<p>Note: 理論, theory, noun, here is a verb, that is, to work out a theory. 與, and. 實踐, practice. 相, with. 結合, combine, verb.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-22T17:04:26.973Z
Yes, thanks for the Chinese rendering of my pinyin.
daniel
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2013-08-22T17:19:46.143Z
Welcome, @daniel, tell us if you need anything more after digesting all above :D
George
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2013-08-22T16:41:50.657Z
2013-08-23T15:55:18.063Z
2013-08-23T15:55:18.063Z
George
<p>My go-to is usually <a href="http://dict.baidu.com/s?wd=%E8%80%8C">百度 Bai Du:</a></p>

<p>It means: <code>but （not）；yet （not）；and；as well as；</code></p>

<p>Out of all of the examples there, I only found a couple where it precedes the verb:</p>

<pre><code>我愿意为什么**而** [VERB: 牺牲] 呢？
What am I willing to sacrifice?

你原是为永恒**而** [VERB: 造]。
You were made to last forever.
</code></pre>

<p>而 here, as you can see from the translation, can mean "to" as an <code>infinitive</code> (precedes verb). </p>

<p>However, you'll most often see it used as a <code>coordinator/conjunction</code>...</p>

<pre><code>革命是广泛**而**自发的。
The revolution is broad and spontaneous.
</code></pre>

<p>Definitely check out that Bai Du link above... You'll see 而 is also used a lot in conjunction with other words to actually mean many different things... Here's some more examples:</p>

<p><strong>而。。。却 : And...Yet</strong></p>

<pre><code>这些话除了伤痛什么也不能带来 **而** 我们 **却** 乞求它。
Those words bring nothing but pain and yet we beg for it.
</code></pre>

<p><strong>而。。。，是为了 : I did [x], so that [y]</strong></p>

<pre><code>而我看这些书，是为了让你不必再去看。
I read these books so that you don't have to.
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T14:28:52.907Z
Nice learning approach! 又如 孔氏 論語 學而 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎  「學而時習之」中 「而」字當作繫聯之意 可有遞進之感  然「人不知 而不慍」中 「而」當講反襯 對立之意
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T14:31:36.613Z
@congliu Not everyone on Chinese SE can fluently read Chinese. Please provide an English translation or explanation when you post Chinese text. Thank you
user3871
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T15:05:56.427Z
On @Growler's request: "So let's look at another example, from a famous text 論語 written by students of 孔氏 aka Confucius (551–479 BC), which goes like this: 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎. The first 而, in '學而時習之' (xue2 er2 shi2 xi2 zhi1, which means 'learn something and, in the meanwhile, you go over once in a while') shows us 而 with a sense of 'connection', though a little increase here, because you learn it, good, and going over it, em, even nicer.
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T15:06:20.820Z
In the second instance, in '人不知 而不慍' (ren2 bu4 zhi1  er2 bu2 yun4, which means that 'others people offend you because that they did not know you well, but you keep it very gentle, didn't get mad about them') so here '而' gives a sense of U-turn" My previous comment gets locked so that I started up new and split it up because of word count limit.
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-22T00:46:13.377Z
@daniel no problem. If this answers your question, please click the "accept" button
user3871
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2013-08-22T00:52:48.203Z
I will not neglect to do so. On other sites one is generally advised to wait a day or two before accepting. Is this site different?
daniel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-22T01:00:25.490Z
Your first example speaks to the question, now that I added examples. Suppose I leave "er" out of "dui mian zuo." Would the meaning still be clear? And could "er" add a bit of the reason for sitting in a particular way, if you know?
daniel
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2013-08-22T02:35:39.603Z
dui mian zui gives another feel, will post detail soon.
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-19T01:08:56.380Z
+1 Good examples and explanation. I disagree with your interpretation in the first 2 examples being 而 = "to"/infinitive. I'm pretty sure they're just turned around versions of the "而⋯⋯，是为了" pattern. That is, "为(了)⋯⋯，而⋯⋯".
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T12:09:46.207Z
2013-08-21T12:21:34.947Z
2013-08-21T12:21:34.947Z
user3871
<p>I have only been studying a short while in spare time but have seen quite a few simple sentences in which 而 precedes the verb. Are there any basic ideas about the structure of such sentences? Places where this is required, recommended? What really is the meaning of 而 in such a sentence? </p>

<p>My notes aren't in front of me but I will supplement this later with an example if I can find one and the question is too broad. If it helps, I am only concerned with very simple sentences of this type. </p>

<p>Edit: (I will replace the toneless Pinyin time allowing, meanwhile I am sure the translations will take care of any ambiguity.)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Ta ying wo de qing qiu er lai. (He came at my request.)</p></li>
<li><p>...dui mian er zuo...(sitting opposite each other)</p></li>
<li><p>...bu gao er qu...(leaving without announcing)</p></li>
<li><p>...yi dai er guo... (mention in passing)</p></li>
<li><p>...yan bi er guo ...(hold one's nose in passing, i.e. look down on)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I will look at the answers as soon as possible. My sense is that 'er' functions as a marker of the infinitive and maybe gives a sense of the manner in which the verb is being done or the reason for it. Thanks. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T03:43:29.543Z
Hi @daniel, try give some example phrase/sentences that you come across, 而 can bring up different meanings in difference context.
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T04:14:35.510Z
In modern Chinese, usually 而 before a verb means "but" or "moreover" (it can have the opposite meanings). So context is important.
Stan
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2013-08-21T09:36:48.970Z
@congliu: Yes I will look for a good example today and add it to the question. Thank you.
daniel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-07T08:27:19.147Z
Came across another example: "为自由而来的美国总统杰弗逊" from http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/15/6/3/n4448799.htm which translates as "Thomas Jefferson came (was born) for freedom."
Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com
<syntax>
Use of 而 preceding verb
# Use of 而 preceding verb

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-21)

I have only been studying a short while in spare time but have seen quite a few simple sentences in which 而 precedes the verb. Are there any basic ideas about the structure of such sentences? Places where this is required, recommended? What really is the meaning of 而 in such a sentence?

My notes aren't in front of me but I will supplement this later with an example if I can find one and the question is too broad. If it helps, I am only concerned with very simple sentences of this type.

Edit: (I will replace the toneless Pinyin time allowing, meanwhile I am sure the translations will take care of any ambiguity.)

1. Ta ying wo de qing qiu er lai. (He came at my request.)
2. ...dui mian er zuo...(sitting opposite each other)
3. ...bu gao er qu...(leaving without announcing)
4. ...yi dai er guo... (mention in passing)
5. ...yan bi er guo ...(hold one's nose in passing, i.e. look down on)

I will look at the answers as soon as possible. My sense is that 'er' functions as a marker of the infinitive and maybe gives a sense of the manner in which the verb is being done or the reason for it. Thanks.

**Tags:** syntax

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi @username_0, try give some example phrase/sentences that you come across, 而 can bring up different meanings in difference context.  
> **username_2**: In modern Chinese, usually 而 before a verb means "but" or "moreover" (it can have the opposite meanings). So context is important.  
> **username_0**: @congliu: Yes I will look for a good example today and add it to the question. Thank you.  
> **username_3**: Came across another example: "为自由而来的美国总统杰弗逊" from http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/15/6/3/n4448799.htm which translates as "Thomas Jefferson came (was born) for freedom."  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-08-21. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

My go-to is usually [百度 Bai Du:](http://dict.baidu.com/s?wd=%E8%80%8C)

It means: `but （not）；yet （not）；and；as well as；`

Out of all of the examples there, I only found a couple where it precedes the verb:

```
我愿意为什么**而** [VERB: 牺牲] 呢？
What am I willing to sacrifice?

你原是为永恒**而** [VERB: 造]。
You were made to last forever.

```

而 here, as you can see from the translation, can mean "to" as an `infinitive` (precedes verb).

However, you'll most often see it used as a `coordinator/conjunction`...

```
革命是广泛**而**自发的。
The revolution is broad and spontaneous.

```

Definitely check out that Bai Du link above... You'll see 而 is also used a lot in conjunction with other words to actually mean many different things... Here's some more examples:

**而。。。却 : And...Yet**

```
这些话除了伤痛什么也不能带来 **而** 我们 **却** 乞求它。
Those words bring nothing but pain and yet we beg for it.

```

**而。。。，是为了 : I did [x], so that [y]**

```
而我看这些书，是为了让你不必再去看。
I read these books so that you don't have to.

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Nice learning approach! 又如 孔氏 論語 學而 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎  「學而時習之」中 「而」字當作繫聯之意 可有遞進之感  然「人不知 而不慍」中 「而」當講反襯 對立之意  
> **username_6**: @congliu Not everyone on Chinese SE can fluently read Chinese. Please provide an English translation or explanation when you post Chinese text. Thank you  
> **username_1**: On @Growler's request: "So let's look at another example, from a famous text 論語 written by students of 孔氏 aka Confucius (551–479 BC), which goes like this: 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎. The first 而, in '學而時習之' (xue2 er2 shi2 xi2 zhi1, which means 'learn something and, in the meanwhile, you go over once in a while') shows us 而 with a sense of 'connection', though a little increase here, because you learn it, good, and going over it, em, even nicer.  
> **username_1**: In the second instance, in '人不知 而不慍' (ren2 bu4 zhi1  er2 bu2 yun4, which means that 'others people offend you because that they did not know you well, but you keep it very gentle, didn't get mad about them') so here '而' gives a sense of U-turn" My previous comment gets locked so that I started up new and split it up because of word count limit.  
> **username_6**: @username_0 no problem. If this answers your question, please click the "accept" button  
> **username_0**: I will not neglect to do so. On other sites one is generally advised to wait a day or two before accepting. Is this site different?  
> **username_0**: Your first example speaks to the question, now that I added examples. Suppose I leave "er" out of "dui mian zuo." Would the meaning still be clear? And could "er" add a bit of the reason for sitting in a particular way, if you know?  
> **username_1**: dui mian zui gives another feel, will post detail soon.  
> **username_7**: +1 Good examples and explanation. I disagree with your interpretation in the first 2 examples being 而 = "to"/infinitive. I'm pretty sure they're just turned around versions of the "而⋯⋯，是为了" pattern. That is, "为(了)⋯⋯，而⋯⋯".  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2024-02-19. Score: 2

From Pleco dictionary: 而 can also before a verb to connect an adverbial element.

E.g.

语言是随着社会发展而发展的。

Language develops as society develops.

这本书就是基于这种原则而编写的

This book was written based on this kind of principle


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2013-08-23. Score: 1

In **MOST** case, "而" have **NO ANY** meaning

Sometime, "而" is short version of "然而(but)","而且(and)","反而(instead)"...etc

at these time, word's meaning comes from "然","且","反".

"而" still **NO** meaning.

It just for padding word.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think you have a point. Language is very redundant and I think it could be that this word sometimes is used to simply mark the verb and make the language clearer. "Padding." Thank you.  
> **username_4**: But in the case where it is before a verb, it links an adverbial element to the verb.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-08-22. Score: 1

Tried to figure out what you mean:

1. 他應我的請求而來

   Ta1 ying2 wo3 de0 qing3 qiu2 er2 lai2 (He came at my request.)
2. ...對面而坐...

   ...dui4 mian4 er2 zuo4...(sitting opposite each other)
3. ...不告而去...

   ...bu2 gao4 er2 qu4...(French leave)
4. ...一帶而過...

   ...yi2 dai4 er2 guo4... (skimming)
5. ...掩鼻而過...

   ...yan3 bi2 er2 guo4...(hold one's nose and leave)

而 gives us a sense of 韻律, without it, these sentences would become a little blunt, though still possible to be understood.

又如 孔氏 論語 學而 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎 「學而時習之」中 「而」字當作繫聯之意 可有遞進之感 然「人不知 而不慍」中 「而」當講反襯 對立之意

Translation:

So let's look at another example, from a famous text 論語 written by students of 孔氏 aka Confucius (551–479 BC), which goes like this: 子曰 學而時習之 不亦說乎 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 人不知 而不慍 不亦君子乎. The first 而, in '學而時習之' (xue2 er2 shi2 xi2 zhi1, which means 'learn something and, in the meanwhile, you go over once in a while') shows us 而 with a sense of 'connection', though a little increase here, because you learn it, good, and going over it, em, even nicer.

In the second instance, in '人不知 而不慍' (ren2 bu4 zhi1 er2 bu2 yun4, which means that 'others people offend you because that they did not know you well, but you keep it very gentle, didn't get mad about them') so here '而' gives a sense of U-turn.

---

## Update - Explanation in [a Japanese Dictionary](http://dictionary.sanseido-publ.co.jp/dicts/foreign/dccj3/)

Through [the eyes from some Japanese](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/cj/6498/m0u/%E8%80%8C/), hope it'll help foreigners understand 而 better. Here I translate the parts that are related to our question:

[接] = conjuction

1. (Original Japanese Explanation) 並列関係を表わす = (My English Translation) Gives a plain list

   (Example) 真實而感人

   (Pinyin) zhēn shí ér gǎn rén

   (Pinyin, another version) zhen1 shi2 er2 gan3 ren2

   (注音)ㄓㄣ ㄕˊ ㄦˊ ㄍㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ

   (Original Japanese Translation) 真実にして感動的 = (My English Translation) Real. Touching.

   Note: 真實, real, adjective. 感人, moving, touching, adjective.
2. 相反する関係を表わす = Juxtapose two things with opposite meaning

   艷而不俗

   yàn ér bù sú

   yan4 er2 bu4 su2

   ㄧㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄨˊ

   派手だが俗っぽくない = Gorgeous, but not in a mundane manner

   Note: If you remove 而, 艷不俗 is rare, though maybe possible, not as common as 艷而不俗. 艷, gorgeous, adjective. 俗, mundane, adjective. 不 gives negative to the adjective following.
3. さらに一歩進めた関係を表わす = Shows further step

   取而代之

   qǔ ér dài zhī

   qu3 er3 dai4 zhi1

   ㄑㄩˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄓ

   とって代わる = Replace it

   Note: If you remove 而, it gives 取代之, still meaningful though not as common as 取而代之. 取, pick, verb. 代, replace, verb. 之, it, pronoun.
4. 原因・目的を示す語句を動詞につなぐ

   為勝利而奮鬥

   wèi shèng lì ér fèn dòu

   wei4 sheng4 li4 er2 fen4 dou4

   ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄈㄣˋ ㄉㄡˋ

   勝利のために奮闘する = Fight for victory

   Note: 為, for, preposition. 勝利, victory, noun. 奮鬥, hard working, noun.
5. 仮定を表わす = Gives an "if…"

   理論而不與實踐相結合...

   lǐ lùn ér bù yǔ shí jiàn xiāng jié hé

   li3 lun4 er3 bu4 yu3 shi2 jian4 xiang1 jie2 he2

   ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄏㄜˊ

   理論がもし実践と結びつかないなら… = Work on theory without practical proof

   Note: 理論, theory, noun, here is a verb, that is, to work out a theory. 與, and. 實踐, practice. 相, with. 結合, combine, verb.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, thanks for the Chinese rendering of my pinyin.  
> **username_1**: Welcome, @username_0, tell us if you need anything more after digesting all above :D  

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