然
Meanings
- correct
- right
- so
- thus
- like this
- -ly
Characters in this entry
- 然
- rán · yes, certainly; pledge, promise
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
2 · ran2
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
Sentences in context
Exact source-spelling matches. Open the reader for dictionary lookups, construction notes and related examples. Occurrence does not establish a particular dictionary sense.
Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 8 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
jin4
Cantonese word readings for 然. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) original form of 燃 (rán, “to burn”)
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) a demonstrative that refers to a previous verbal clause
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) a demonstrative that refers to a previous verbal clause — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) so; thus; in this manner; like this
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) a demonstrative that refers to a previous verbal clause — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Suffix forming adverbs, sometimes also adjectives, with an abstract meaning of “in the manner of, like”.
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) metaphors extracted from fossilizations of sense 2 — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) but
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) metaphors extracted from fossilizations of sense 2 — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) correct; right
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) metaphors extracted from fossilizations of sense 2 — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to regard as correct; to agree
- (Teochew) to resemble; to be like
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
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