然后rán hòuthen; after that; afterwards
然后 (rán hòu) means "then," "after that," or "afterwards." It is a conjunction that links one action to the next one in a sequence. Put it at the start of the later clause, as in 我先吃饭,然后去学校. This entry focuses on that single meaning of what comes next.
What does 然后 mean?
- 1.
then; after that; afterwardsconjunction
What do the characters in 然后 mean?
- 然so; thus; like this
- 后afterwards; after; later
How do you use 然后?
Grammar patterns
- 1
先 + Action 1,然后 + Action 2
Use 先 for the first step and 然后 for the step after it, much like "first…, then…" in English.
Put 然后 at the start of the second clause, after a comma.
Patterns
Action 1,然后 + Action 2
我们去看电影,然后回家。
Wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng, rán hòu huí jiā.
We'll go see a movie and then go home.
What are some examples of 然后 in a sentence?
我先吃饭,然后去学校。
Wǒ xiān chīfàn, ránhòu qù xuéxiào.
I'll eat first, then go to school.
我们去看电影,然后回家。
Wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng, ránhòu huí jiā.
We'll go see a movie and then go home.
他下班了,然后去了医院。
Tā xiàbān le, ránhòu qù le yīyuàn.
He got off work, then went to the hospital.
你先洗手,然后吃饭。
Nǐ xiān xǐ shǒu, ránhòu chīfàn.
Wash your hands first, then eat.
How is 然后 used in a conversation?
- Speaker A:
我们今天晚上做什么?
Wǒmen jīntiān wǎnshang zuò shénme?
What are we doing tonight?
- Speaker B:
先吃饭,然后去看电影。
Xiān chīfàn, ránhòu qù kàn diànyǐng.
Eat first, then go see a movie.
- Speaker A:
看电影以后呢?
Kàn diànyǐng yǐhòu ne?
And after the movie?
- Speaker B:
然后回家。
Ránhòu huí jiā.
Then go home.
Can you use 然后 correctly?
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Related words
- 再zàiagain; once more; re-HSK 1
- 开始kāi shǐto begin; to startHSK 2
- 就jiù(after a suppositional clause) in that case; thenHSK 2
- 以后yǐ hòuafterHSK 3
- 后来hòu láiafterwards; laterHSK 3
- 当然dāng ráncertainly; of course; without doubtHSK 3
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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.