而
and; as well as; and so; but (not); yet (not); (indicates causal relation); (indicates change of state); (indicates contrast)
6 strokes
Dict coverage rank #220 U+800C
How to remember it
and · Heisig RSH #962
— as a component also called: comb
Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.
Characters built with 而 as their sound component
These characters all use 而 (ér) as their phonetic component — compare how they read:
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 而 sound component | ér | and, and then, and yet; but |
| 鸸 | ér | swallow |
| 恧 | nǜ | ashamed |
| 鲕 | ér | roe |
Words containing 而
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大而化之 | dà ér huà zhī | careless; sloppy |
| 自上而下 | zì shàng ér xià | (idiom) from top to bottom; top-down |
| 自下而上 | zì xià ér shàng | (idiom) from bottom to top; from the grass roots up; bottom-up |
| 相机而动 | xiàng jī ér dòng | to wait for the opportune moment before taking action (idiom) |
| 相机而行 | xiàng jī ér xíng | to act according to the situation (idiom) |
| 不可同日而语 | bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ | lit. mustn't speak of two things on the same day (idiom); not to be mentioned in the same … |
| 分而治之 | fēn ér zhì zhī | (idiom) to divide and rule |
| 大而无当 | dà ér wú dàng | grandiose but impractical (idiom); large but of no real use |
| 一发而不可收 | yī fā ér bù kě shōu | to be impossible to stop once started |
| 合而为一 | hé ér wéi yī | to merge together (idiom); to unify disparate elements into one whole |
| 量力而行 | liàng lì ér xíng | to assess one's capabilities and act accordingly (idiom); to act within one's competence; … |
| 形而上学 | xíng ér shàng xué | metaphysics |
| 同日而语 | tóng rì ér yǔ | lit. to speak of two things on the same day (idiom); to mention things on equal terms (oft… |
| 不一而足 | bù yī ér zú | by no means an isolated case; numerous |
| 言而无信 | yán ér wú xìn | (idiom) untrustworthy; not true to one's word |
| 言而有信 | yán ér yǒu xìn | to speak and keep one's promise (idiom); as good as one's word |
| 不得而知 | bù dé ér zhī | unknown; unable to find out |
| 自然而然 | zì rán ér rán | (idiom) natural; unforced; (idiom) naturally; as a matter of course; in the natural course… |
| 平心而论 | píng xīn ér lùn | (idiom) in all fairness; objectively speaking |
| 时而 | shí ér | occasionally; from time to time |