而
而 (ér) means “and”. It is a single picture-like unit with 6 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 而 into its parts
What 而 is made of
而 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 6 strokes.
而 stroke order
Example sentences
他是学生，而我是老师。Tā shì xuésheng, ér wǒ shì lǎoshī.He is a student, and I am a teacher.
这条路短而安静。Zhè tiáo lù duǎn ér ānjìng.This road is short and quiet.
Words with 而
- 而且érqiěand also
- 而是érshìbut rather (不是…而是)
- 反而fǎn'érinstead
- 然而ránérhowever
- 不但而且bùdàn…érqiěnot only … but also …
- 从而cóng'érthus
- 因而yīn'értherefore
- 半途而废bàntú'érfèito give up halfway
- 不言而喻bùyán'éryùit goes without saying
- 而已éryǐthat's all
- 进而jìn'érand then
- 侃侃而谈kǎnkǎnértánto speak with ease and confidence
- 锲而不舍qiè'érbùshěto persevere
- 时而shí'érsometimes
- 总而言之zǒng'éryánzhīin short
Quick facts
| Pinyin | ér |
|---|---|
| Meaning | and; but; while |
| Strokes | 6 |
| Radical | 而 (and, #126) |
| Pattern | Single unit |
| HSK | HSK 4 (exam 2025) · HSK 4 (2021) · Old HSK 4 |
Questions about 而
What does 而 mean?
而 (ér) means “and; but; while”.
How many strokes does 而 have?
而 has 6 strokes.
What is the radical of 而?
The radical of 而 is 而 (ér, “and”), Kangxi radical number 126.
Which HSK level is 而?
而 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Learn 而 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 15: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.