然而grammar point · tier 2 · however, yet — concessive pivot 然而
Sentence-initial conjunction: concedes the prior statement as true, then pivots to a contrasting point — however, yet.
字源 FORM what the parts do
然 holds the first clause as a settled fact, it being so; 而 is the beard borrowed whole for joining, and here it turns rather than stacks. Together they grant the point, then swing the other way.
故事 STORY a scene to remember it by
A road runs straight and granted; at 然而 it bends back against the way it was heading.
字源記憶法
框 · Frame
[granted clause]。然而 [contrasting clause]。
觸 · Trigger
You have stated something true, and now you want to swing to a fact that cuts against it.
序 · The move
1State the first clause as a standing fact, complete on its own.Does it read as granted, not yet contradicted?
2Open the next sentence with 然而, then state the point that runs against it.Does the second clause genuinely turn, not merely add?
3Keep 然而 at the head of its own clause.No 雖然 demanded before it, and no 但是 paired after — 然而 turns alone.
雖然…但是… is a paired frame: the 雖然 clause sets up the concession, 但是 turns it. 然而 carries the turn by itself, at the head of a new sentence, with no 雖然 required before it.
Both turn the same way; 但是 is the everyday spoken pivot, 然而 the written, formal one. 然而 typically opens a fresh sentence; 但是 commonly joins within one.
✗ 雖然他很累，然而。 → ✓ 雖然他很累，然而還是把工作做完了。 (然而 still needs its own contrasting clause.)
✗ 天氣很冷然而下雪。 → ✓ 天氣很冷，然而我們還是出門了。 (然而 turns against the first fact, it does not just add a next one.)
✗ 然而很貴，我買了。 → ✓ 雖然很貴，我還是買了。/ 很貴，然而我還是買了。 (the granted fact comes first, then 然而 pivots.)
English lets 'however' float mid-sentence or after a comma; 然而 sits at the head of its clause, normally opening a new sentence, and is the formal register, not a casual 'but'.