然后

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 先吃饭,然后睡觉。▶ —
   Eat first, then sleep.
2. 我去商店,然后回家。▶ —
   I'll go to the store, then home.

Collocations

Mnemonic

然后 ránhòu "then, after that" — temporal sequence. Pairs with 先 xiān: "先 X, 然后 Y" = "first X, then Y". 然后呢? = "then what?" (asking continuation).

Quick check

1. Function of 然后呢?

   • "then what?" (asking continuation)
   • refusal
   • greeting
   • certainty