而 (ér) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 而 (ér) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 而 (ér) means "And / But / Yet". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 6 strokes and the radical 而.

Q: How do you write 而 stroke by stroke?

而 has 6 strokes. The radical is 而. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What is the radical of 而?

The radical of 而 is 而. The radical often gives a clue about the character's meaning category.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 而?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 而. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 而?

Common words containing 而 include: 而且 (ér qiě) — And / Furthermore / Moreover; 反而 (fǎn ér) — On the contrary; instead; 从而 (cóng ér) — Thus; thereby..

How to Write 而

The character 而 (ér) is written with 6 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 而 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

而 is pronounced ér in Mandarin Chinese. It means And / But / Yet.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 而 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 而

而且 ér qiě

And / Furthermore / Moreover

反而 fǎn ér

On the contrary; instead

从而 cóng ér

Thus; thereby.

Example Sentences

他很聪明，而且很努力。

tā hěn cōng míng ér qiě hěn nǔ lì

He is very smart, and moreover, very hardworking.

雨没停，反而更大了。

yǔ méi tíng fǎn ér gèng dà le

The rain didn't stop; instead, it got heavier.

努力学习，从而取得好成绩。

nǔ lì xué xí cóng ér qǔ dé hǎo chéng jì

Study hard to achieve good results.

Practice Writing 而 (ér)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 而 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 而

What does 而 (ér) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 而 stroke by stroke?

What is the radical of 而?

What mistakes do learners make writing 而?

What common words use 而?

How to Write 而 (ér)