而 ér — and · English

而

ér

and

At a glance · 而

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「而」甲骨文象胡须之形，后假借为连词。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「而」本为颊毛（须）象形，假借为连词、代词，沿用。

Structure

象形字，本象下巴胡须，假借为连词，久借不还。

At a glance

Pinyinér

Radical而

Strokes6

UnicodeU+800C

Character type象形

Theme虚词

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English and and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126

Français et / mais Et, mais (conjonction). «去而益咏» : et ainsi on le chante davantage.

Español y / pero Y, pero (conjunción). «去而益咏»: y así se canta más.

العربية و / لكن و، لكن (أداة). «去而益咏»: و يُغنى أكثر بعد رحيله.

Русский и / но И, но (союз). «去而益咏»: и потому поют больше.

Common words

而érand/yet
而且ér qiěmoreover

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