那麼grammar point · tier 1 · 那麼 (in that case / then — consequence connector)
· nàme
Opens the consequence: takes a situation already on the table and points to what follows from it — in that case, then.
字源 FORM what the parts do
那 is a far-pointing word: a town-ear (阝, 邑) once named a distant place, 冄 lending a worn sound, the graph borrowed to point away — that one, over there. 麼 rides behind as a light sound-tail (幺 thread-end, 麻 for the sound), on loan and worn down to me. Together they aim that far reach at a condition: given that, this follows.
故事 STORY a scene to remember it by
A premise sits settled on the near side. An arm lifts and points across to the result waiting on the far side.
字源記憶法自撰
框 · Frame
[condition / prior situation]，那麼 [consequence].
觸 · Trigger
A condition or situation is already established; you reach forward to state what follows from it.
序 · The move
1Put the condition or situation first, as a settled clause.Is there a premise already on the table for 那麼 to point back across?
2Open the second clause with 那麼, then state the consequence.Does the consequence follow FROM the premise, not derive it?
3Read it forward only.Swapping the clauses breaks the sense — premise then 那麼 then result, never the reverse.
例 · Examples
1如果if你不同意not agree，那麼then, in that case你建議suggest我們該怎麼做should how do呢？
If you don't agree, then what do you suggest we do?
那麼 stands at the head of its own clause and resumes a whole prior situation to point forward; 就 sits tight inside one conditional sentence, right after the condition clause, binding its consequence (如果…就…). 那麼 reaches across a pause; 就 clamps.
如果 lays a hypothetical condition that 就 answers within one sentence. 那麼 needs no 如果 above it — it can resume any situation already stated (often a turn in conversation) and send it onward.
如果下雨，那麼我不去。 ✗ → 如果下雨，我就不去。 ✓ (a tight if/then consequence takes 就 inside the sentence, not a fronted 那麼)
那麼如果你不同意 ✗ → 如果你不同意，那麼… ✓ (the premise comes first; 那麼 cannot front the condition)
你同意那麼很好 ✗ → 你同意，那麼很好。 ✓ (那麼 opens a new clause after the established situation, not glued mid-clause)
English "then" covers both time-sequence ("first this, then that") and consequence ("if so, then"); 那麼 is only the consequence sense. For time-order use 然後; do not reach for 那麼 to mean "and after that."