Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs
从而 and 进而 (thereby, and then) link a result or the next step, 特意 (on purpose) gives manner, and 索性, 反而 and 未免 show the speaker's attitude. These are written-style adverbs that go before the verb.
In English
Six written adverbs organise a sentence. 从而 and 进而 link clauses: 从而 gives a result that follows from the first clause, 进而 gives the next step. 特意 means doing something specially for a purpose.
索性 means 'simply, might as well', choosing a more thorough action. 反而 marks a result that is the opposite of what you would expect, and 未免 politely says that something is a bit too much. Mixing up 从而 and 进而, or using 反而 without an expectation to reverse, are the common mistakes.
关联副词（连接前后分句，表逻辑关系，书面语常用）：
- 从而 = 因此、由此产生的结果：提高了技术，从而降低了成本。强调'前因后果'的必然联系。
- 进而 = 在此基础上更进一步：先了解情况，进而提出建议。强调'层层递进'。
方式副词：
- 特意 = 专门、特地（表示为了某个目的而做）：我特意提前来帮你准备。
情态/语气副词（说话人的主观态度）：
- 索性 = 干脆，表示不再犹豫、直接采取更彻底的做法：既然已经错过了，索性再等下一班。
- 反而 = 跟预期相反：吃了药，病情反而更严重了。
- 未免 = 委婉批评'有点太…了'：这个要求未免太高了。
常见错误：'从而'和'进而'不能互换——'从而'指结果，'进而'指下一步动作；'反而'必须有一个预期作对比，不能凭空使用。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他每天坚持锻炼，从而保持了良好的身体状态。 | Tā měi tiān jiān chí duàn liàn, cóng ér bǎo chí le liáng hǎo de shēn tǐ zhuàng tài. | He exercises every day, thereby maintaining good physical condition. | 从而 (connective) linking cause (exercising) to inevitable result — the minimal frame. |
| 公司先解决了资金问题，进而着手扩大市场规模。 | Gōng sī xiān jiě jué le zī jīn wèn tí, jìn ér zhuó shǒu kuò dà shì chǎng guī mó. | The company first solved the funding problem, and then went a step further to expand its market scale. | 进而 (connective) shows a next, more advanced step building on the first action — contrasted with 从而's cause-result relation. |
| 他特意提前一小时到机场，没想到航班反而晚点了，他等得有点不耐烦，索性去附近的咖啡厅坐了下来，心想航空公司这样的安排未免太不负责任了。 | Tā tè yì tí qián yī xiǎo shí dào jī chǎng, méi xiǎng dào háng bān fǎn ér wǎn diǎn le, tā děng de yǒu diǎn bù nài fán, suǒ xìng qù fù jìn de kā fēi tīng zuò le xià lái, xīn xiǎng háng kōng gōng sī zhè yàng de ān pái wèi miǎn tài bù fù zé rèn le. | He specially arrived at the airport an hour early, but unexpectedly the flight was delayed instead; getting a bit impatient waiting, he simply went and sat in a nearby café, thinking to himself that the airline's arrangement was rather too irresponsible. | 特意, 反而, 索性, and 未免 combined in one long narrative, showing all four modal/manner adverbs together. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
从而 (cóng ér)
Introduces the result that follows from the first clause, in written style.
Structure: Action, 从而 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 工厂改进了设备，从而减少了污染。 | Gōng chǎng gǎi jìn le shè bèi, cóng ér jiǎn shǎo le wū rǎn. | The factory improved its equipment and thereby reduced pollution. |
| 多读书可以开阔眼界，从而提高写作水平。 | Duō dú shū kě yǐ kāi kuò yǎn jiè, cóng ér tí gāo xiě zuò shuǐ píng. | Reading more widens your horizons and so raises your writing level. |
| 政府降低了税收，从而鼓励了小企业的发展。 | Zhèng fǔ jiàng dī le shuì shōu, cóng ér gǔ lì le xiǎo qǐ yè de fā zhǎn. | The government cut taxes, thereby encouraging small businesses. |
Not: 我很饿，从而去吃饭。 从而 gives a result that follows from an action, not a personal plan; use 所以.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, conjunctions (连接分句或句子).
从而 is also explained in: Clause Conjunctions: 从而、加上、完了、一旦 (HSK 5).
进而 (jìn ér)
Introduces the next step built on the first one.
Structure: Step 1, 进而 + step 2
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他先学会了拼音，进而掌握了汉字的写法。 | Tā xiān xué huì le pīn yīn, jìn ér zhǎng wò le Hàn zì de xiě fǎ. | He first learned pinyin and went on to master how to write characters. |
| 先了解对方的需要，进而才能提供合适的服务。 | Xiān liǎo jiě duì fāng de xū yào, jìn ér cái néng tí gōng hé shì de fú wù. | First understand the other party's needs, and then you can offer suitable service. |
| 公司先在本地站稳了脚跟，进而把生意做到了外地。 | Gōng sī xiān zài běn dì zhàn wěn le jiǎo gēn, jìn ér bǎ shēng yi zuò dào le wài dì. | The company first got established locally and then took its business to other places. |
Not: 我吃了药，进而病好了。 进而 is the next step; an outcome like getting well takes 从而.
特意 (tè yì)
Says that someone did something specially for a purpose, usually a kind one.
Structure: 特意 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我知道你爱吃甜的，特意给你买了蛋糕。 | Wǒ zhī dào nǐ ài chī tián de, tè yì gěi nǐ mǎi le dàn gāo. | I know you like sweet things, so I bought you a cake specially. |
| 他特意从外地赶回来参加婚礼。 | Tā tè yì cóng wài dì gǎn huí lái cān jiā hūn lǐ. | He made a special trip back from out of town for the wedding. |
| 老师特意把难点又讲了一遍。 | Lǎo shī tè yì bǎ nán diǎn yòu jiǎng le yí biàn. | The teacher went over the difficult points once more on purpose. |
Not: 他特意打碎了我的杯子。 特意 is a kind purpose; for doing harm on purpose use 故意.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, adverbs (方式副词).
索性 (suǒ xìng)
Says 'simply' or 'might as well': you take the more thorough action instead of hesitating.
Structure: 索性 + drastic action
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 雨越下越大，我们索性不走了，在这里吃晚饭。 | Yǔ yuè xià yuè dà, wǒ men suǒ xìng bù zǒu le, zài zhè lǐ chī wǎn fàn. | The rain got heavier, so we simply stayed and ate dinner here. |
| 这篇文章改来改去还是不满意，他索性重写了一遍。 | Zhè piān wén zhāng gǎi lái gǎi qù hái shi bù mǎn yì, tā suǒ xìng chóng xiě le yí biàn. | He was still not happy after many edits, so he just rewrote it. |
| 既然已经迟到了，索性慢慢走吧。 | Jì rán yǐ jīng chí dào le, suǒ xìng màn màn zǒu ba. | Since we are late anyway, we might as well walk slowly. |
Not: 我索性很高兴。 索性 introduces a decisive action, not a feeling.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 7-9, adverbs (语气副词).
反而 (fǎn ér)
Says the result is the opposite of what you would expect.
Structure: Expected result not met, 反而 + opposite
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他批评了孩子，孩子反而哭得更厉害了。 | Tā pī píng le hái zi, hái zi fǎn ér kū de gèng lì hai le. | He scolded the child, who cried even harder. |
| 药吃完了，咳嗽反而更重了。 | Yào chī wán le, ké sou fǎn ér gèng zhòng le. | He finished the medicine and the cough got worse. |
| 我帮了他，他反而怪我多管闲事。 | Wǒ bāng le tā, tā fǎn ér guài wǒ duō guǎn xián shì. | I helped him and he blamed me for meddling. |
Not: 吃了药，病反而好了。 反而 needs an unexpected result; getting better after medicine is expected.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, adverbs (语气副词).
未免 (wèi miǎn)
Politely criticises: 'a bit too ...'.
Structure: 未免 + 太/有点 + adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 为了一点小事就大发脾气，未免太不值得了。 | Wèi le yì diǎn xiǎo shì jiù dà fā pí qi, wèi miǎn tài bù zhí de le. | Losing your temper over a trifle is not really worth it. |
| 你一个人搬这么多东西，未免太辛苦了。 | Nǐ yí ge rén bān zhè me duō dōng xi, wèi miǎn tài xīn kǔ le. | Moving this much on your own is a bit too hard. |
| 这个价格未免有点高吧。 | Zhè ge jià gé wèi miǎn yǒu diǎn gāo ba. | This price is a little too high, is it not? |
Not: 这家菜未免很好吃。 未免 is mild criticism, so it cannot go with praise.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 7-9, adverbs (语气副词).
Compared side by side: 从而 vs 进而.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
Questions about Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs
What does 关联、方式与情态语气副词 (Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
从而 and 进而 (thereby, and then) link a result or the next step, 特意 (on purpose) gives manner, and 索性, 反而 and 未免 show the speaker's attitude. These are written-style adverbs that go before the verb. It is an HSK 6 grammar point.
How do you use 关联、方式与情态语气副词 (Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs) in a sentence?
他每天坚持锻炼，从而保持了良好的身体状态。 — Tā měi tiān jiān chí duàn liàn, cóng ér bǎo chí le liáng hǎo de shēn tǐ zhuàng tài. — He exercises every day, thereby maintaining good physical condition. 从而 (connective) linking cause (exercising) to inevitable result — the minimal frame.
What do you need to know before 关联、方式与情态语气副词 (Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs)?
Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs (HSK 6). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What is the difference between 从而 and 进而?
从而 introduces a result: 提高技术，从而降低成本. 进而 introduces the next step: 先了解，进而提出建议. If the second part is an outcome use 从而, if it is another stage of action use 进而。
When can I use 反而?
Only when the first part sets up an expectation and the result goes the other way: 越吃越饿 or 不但不累，反而更有精神。
Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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