Lessons 20–21: Written-style conjunctions: 然而, 从而, 假如

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   …+然而+…

   Similar in meaning to 但是, mostly used in written Chinese.

   • 她的自信使朋友觉得很有道理。然而，让人吃惊的是，面试时她竟然跟教授争论了起来。

     Tā de zìxìn shǐ péngyou juéde hěn yǒu dàolǐ. Rán'ér, ràng rén chījīng de shì, miànshì shí tā jìngrán gēn jiàoshòu zhēnglùnle qǐlai.

     Her confidence made her friends feel she was very reasonable. However, what surprised people was that during the interview she argued with the professor.

   • 虽然病了一个多星期，然而他的精神还不错。

     Suīrán bìngle yí ge duō xīngqī, rán'ér tā de jīngshén hái búcuò.

     Although he had been ill for more than a week, his spirits were still quite good.

   • 虽然我们已经学了快一年的汉语了，然而要听懂中国人谈话还有困难。

     Suīrán wǒmen yǐjīng xuéle kuài yì nián de Hànyǔ le, rán'ér yào tīng dǒng Zhōngguórén tánhuà hái yǒu kùnnan.

     Although we have studied Chinese for almost a year, it is still hard to understand Chinese people when they speak.

   • 身体健康当然很重要，然而心理健康可能更重要。

     Shēntǐ jiànkāng dāngrán hěn zhòngyào, rán'ér xīnlǐ jiànkāng kěnéng gèng zhòngyào.

     Physical health is of course very important, but mental health may be even more important.

2. 2
   分句1，从而+分句2 (kết quả / hành động tiếp theo)

   Used in the second clause of a complex sentence, indicating a result or a further action; used in written Chinese.

   • 行为治疗的目的，是使那些心灵痛苦的人能够回到正常生活中去，从而享受正常人都拥有的幸福和权利。

     Xíngwéi zhìliáo de mùdì, shì shǐ nàxiē xīnlíng tòngkǔ de rén nénggòu huídào zhèngcháng shēnghuó zhōng qù, cóng'ér xiǎngshòu zhèngchángrén dōu yōngyǒu de xìngfú hé quánlì.

     The aim of behavioral therapy is to help people suffering in their minds return to normal life, and thereby enjoy the happiness and rights that ordinary people have.

   • 由于电脑网络的普及，人们获得信息更加方便了，从而也使人们之间的交往更方便了。

     Yóuyú diànnǎo wǎngluò de pǔjí, rénmen huòdé xìnxī gèngjiā fāngbiàn le, cóng'ér yě shǐ rénmen zhījiān de jiāowǎng gèng fāngbiàn le.

     Because computer networks have become widespread, people can get information more conveniently, and thus communication between people has also become more convenient.

   • 最近半年来，我每天都坚持锻炼，从而使身体慢慢好了起来。

     Zuìjìn bàn nián lái, wǒ měitiān dōu jiānchí duànliàn, cóng'ér shǐ shēntǐ mànman hǎole qǐlai.

     For the past six months I have kept up my exercise every day, and as a result my body has gradually gotten healthier.

   • 通过一年的努力，我的汉语水平已经达到了HSK中级，从而为以后的专业学习打下了基础。

     Tōngguò yì nián de nǔlì, wǒ de Hànyǔ shuǐpíng yǐjīng dádàole HSK zhōngjí, cóng'ér wèi yǐhòu de zhuānyè xuéxí dǎxiàle jīchǔ.

     After a year of effort, my Chinese has reached the intermediate HSK level, which lays the foundation for my later specialized studies.

3. 3
   假如+…+就optional+…

   Same meaning as 如果; used in written Chinese.

   • 假如你在爱情上欺骗，受骗的只是一个人；可在科学上欺骗，受害的将是成千上万的病人。

     Jiǎrú nǐ zài àiqíng shang qīpiàn, shòupiàn de zhǐshì yí ge rén; kě zài kēxué shang qīpiàn, shòuhài de jiāng shì chéngqiān-shàngwàn de bìngrén.

     If you deceive someone in love, only one person is deceived; but if you commit fraud in science, the people harmed will be thousands upon thousands of patients.

   • 假如得不到奖学金，我可能就学不下去了。

     Jiǎrú dé bu dào jiǎngxuéjīn, wǒ kěnéng jiù xué bu xiàqù le.

     If I hadn't gotten the scholarship, I probably couldn't have continued my studies.

   • 假如考不上研究生，你打算怎么办呢？

     Jiǎrú kǎo bu shàng yánjiūshēng, nǐ dǎsuàn zěnme bàn ne?

     If you don't pass the graduate entrance exam, what will you do?

   • 假如你有时间就和我们一起去吧。

     Jiǎrú nǐ yǒu shíjiān jiù hé wǒmen yìqǐ qù ba.

     If you have time, come with us.