这个计划看起来很完美。然而，执行起来困难重重。(zhè ge jì huà kàn qǐ lái hěn wán měi. Rán'ér, zhí xíng qǐ lái kùn nán chóng chóng.) — "This plan looked perfect. However, it turned out to be extremely difficult to carry out." That's 然而 (rán'ér) at work: a formal Mandarin connector meaning "However" or "Nevertheless," placed at the start of a contrasting clause to show that reality defied expectations. It's the polished version of 但是 (dànshì), suited to presentations, reports, and formal conversations.
Structure: Clause A。然而 + Contrasting Clause B.
The first clause sets up an expectation — the plan seemed flawless. 然而 pivots: reality was far harder than predicted. A simpler example: 他很努力。然而，结果并不理想 (tā hěn nǔlì. Rán'ér, jiéguǒ bìng bù lǐxiǎng) — "He worked hard. However, the results weren't ideal."
This is a live voice conversation: you talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time. Each lesson targets one grammar pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level.
In this lesson you'll practice building 然而 sentences that highlight unexpected outcomes — the formal contrasts you'd use in a report or presentation. You set up an expectation in one clause, then pivot with 然而 to show how reality differed.
Afterward, reinforce your writing with the free printable Chinese worksheet generator. For more advanced structures, browse the HSK 5 lessons hub page, or try another HSK 5 live lesson on 毕竟 (bìjìng) and another HSK 5 live lesson on 恨不得 (hènbude). The first lesson is free to start.
然而 (rán'ér) and 但是 (dànshì) both mean "however," but 然而 is the formal, polished version. You'd use 然而 in presentations, reports, or formal conversations — anywhere you want to sound more elevated. 但是 works in everyday speech. This lesson, Formal Contrasts, trains you to use 然而 in those formal contexts where 但是 would feel too casual.
Mei Lin listens to you speak in real time and corrects grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation. If you place 然而 incorrectly or your tones are off, she adjusts and adapts to your level — so you learn to build contrasting clauses naturally rather than memorizing rules in isolation.
You can, but 然而 (rán'ér) — However / Nevertheless (Formal) — sounds stiff in casual chat. In everyday speech, 但是 is more natural. 然而 shines in formal contexts: presentations, reports, or discussions where you need to highlight that reality turned out differently from what everyone expected.
Each live conversation lesson targets one specific grammar pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. This lesson focuses entirely on 然而 and contrasting clauses, so you get concentrated practice rather than a broad review. The first lesson is free to start.