ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

so; like that (in 当然, 自然)

What 然 is made of

Where 然 comes from

然 packed meat 月, dog 犬, and fire 灬 into one character: roasting. It was the original 'to burn' (now written 燃), but got borrowed for 'so, thus, like that' — and the loan was never returned.

然 in Chinese culture

当然 of course, 自然 nature/naturally, 虽然...但是 although...but, 突然 suddenly, 然后 'after that' — the connector gluing together every Chinese story a beginner tells. 然 is how Mandarin says 'that's just how it is'.

Example

How to remember it

Meat roasting on the fire 灬 — naturally, OF COURSE it's dinner.

Beginner Mandarin stories are strung together with 然后...然后...然后 'and then... and then... and then' — teachers joke it's the most overworked word in any first-year classroom.

Same sound, different tones

Words unlocked by 然

Related characters

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