然後

And Then

Level 2Sounds Like jin4 hau6

Use 然後 (jin4 hau6) at the beginning of a clause to express 'and then' or 'after that'. It connects two sequential events chronologically.

How It Works

然後 (jin4 hau6) is a temporal conjunction used to link two actions or events in sequence, showing that the second event happens after the first.

1. Basic Sentence Frame
It is placed at the start of the second clause or sentence:
• [Clause A] + (先 sin1) + , 然後 + (再 zoi3 / 就 zau6) + [Clause B]
Example: 我返屋企先，然後再打俾你。(ngo5 faan1 uk1 kei2 sin1, jin4 hau6 zoi3 daa2 bei2 nei5.) - 'I'll go home first, and then I'll call you.'

2. Register and Spoken Variants
While 然後 is standard in written Cantonese and formal contexts, everyday spoken Cantonese strongly prefers:
• 跟住 (gan1 zyu6) - The primary everyday colloquial Cantonese term for 'and then / next'
• ...之後 (zi1 hau6) - 'Afterwards / after'
• 然之後 (jin4 zi1 hau6) - A popular spoken hybrid blending 然後 and 之後.

3. Important Distinctions
• Do not use 然後 to join nouns. To list items, use 同/同埋 (tung4 / tung4 maai4).
• 然後 cannot follow a noun or verb phrase as a postposition (e.g., 'eating after'). For postpositions, use ...之後 (zi1 hau6).

Examples (4)

  1. 我返屋企先，然後再打俾你。

    I'll go home first, and then I'll call you.

    Word by Word: I return home first, and then again call give you.

    Notice the use of 先 (sin1) in the first clause and 再 (zoi3) after 然後 (jin4 hau6) to emphasize the sequential step.

  2. 首先去圖書館，然後返屋企。

    First go to the library, then go home.

    Word by Word: First go library, then return home.

    首先 (sau2 sin1, 'first') pairs naturally with 然後 (jin4 hau6, 'then') when giving multi-step directions.

  3. 一開始慢慢噉讀啲對話，然後加快速度再讀過。

    Read the dialogue slowly at first, then increase your speed and read it again.

    Word by Word: One start slowly read those dialogue, then add fast speed again read through.

    Used to link learning steps in sequence, expressing doing the first action first, then doing the next action.

  4. 我做完嘢，然後同朋友食飯。

    I finished work, and then ate dinner with friends.

    Word by Word: I do finish stuff, and then with friends eat rice.

    Using 完 (jyun4, 'finish') in the first clause ensures a clear transition before 然後 introduces the second event.

Common Mistakes

  • Linking nouns with 然後 instead of using words for 'and'.

    我買咗蘋果，然後香蕉。
    我買咗蘋果同埋香蕉。

    然後 (jin4 hau6) can only connect clauses or sequential actions ('and then'). To join simple nouns, use 同 (tung4) or 同埋 (tung4 maai4).

  • Placing 然後 after a verb phrase like a postposition.

    食飯然後，我哋去睇戲。
    食飯之後，我哋去睇戲。 / 先食飯，然後我哋去睇戲。

    然後 (jin4 hau6) must appear clause-initially. If you want a pattern that goes directly after a verb, use ...之後 (zi1 hau6) instead.

  • Leaving out 完 (jyun4) when you want to stress the first action is finished.

    Different Meaning我返工然後食晚飯。
    我返完工，然後食晚飯。

    我返工然後食晚飯 is a normal sequence ('I go to work, then eat dinner'). 我返完工，然後食晚飯 stresses that work is finished first.

How It Connects

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然後Level 2And Then

Learn This First

然後 is a conjunction used to sequence actions or events. To use it correctly, learners should already be comfortable with basic sentence structure and the informal equivalent '跟住' to understand the register difference.

Words in This Pattern

然后