The linking words of essays, reports and the press: contrast, result, addition and conclusion.
Written Chinese links its clauses with a set of connectors that are rarely heard in conversation. Many are the written partners of spoken words you already know: 然而 for 但是, 倘若 for 如果, 加之 for 加上, 换言之 for 换句话说. Several contain a classical element — 之, 此, 而, 若 — that the list of written words explains. A few work in pairs, such as 与其…不如 and 尚且…何况, and the second half is not optional.
The words
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Verb (1)
致使to cause; to result inVerb5
大雾致使多条高速公路关闭。Thick fog caused several motorways to close.
Written; the result is nearly always bad.
Adverb (2)
由此from this; henceAdverb5
由此看来，他早就知道这件事了。Judging from this, he must have known about it all along.
In 由此看来, judging from this, and 由此可见, this shows.
对此about this; regarding thisAdverb5
新的停车规定出台后，不少居民对此表示不满。After the new parking rules came out, a good many residents expressed dissatisfaction with them.
Preposition (2)
鉴于in view of; consideringPreposition5
鉴于他的出色表现，公司决定给他升职。In view of his outstanding performance, the company has decided to promote him.
诸如such asPreposition5
他会很多乐器，诸如钢琴、吉他和二胡。He plays many instruments, such as the piano, the guitar and the erhu.
Written for 比如; often 诸如此类, and the like.
Conjunction (27)
然而however; yetConjunction4
他准备得很充分，然而考试还是没通过。He had prepared thoroughly; however, he still failed the exam.
Written partner of 但是; often opens a new sentence.
从而thereby; thusConjunction5
公司改进了生产流程，从而降低了成本。The company improved its production process, thereby reducing costs.
Introduces a result brought about by what was just said.
进而and then; going a step furtherConjunction5
先了解顾客的需要，进而设计出更好的产品。First understand what customers need, and then go on to design better products.
此外in addition; besidesConjunction4
这套房子离地铁站很近；此外，附近还有一所学校。This flat is close to the metro station; in addition, there is a school nearby.
况且moreover; besidesConjunction5
天这么晚了，况且还在下雨，你就别走了。It's so late, and it's raining besides; don't go.
Adds a further reason; closer to speech than 此外.
何况let alone; all the more soConjunction4
这道题连老师都不会，何况学生呢？Even the teacher can't do this question, let alone the students.
Often after 连…都 or 尚且.
以便so that; in order toConjunction5
请留下您的电话，以便我们及时联系您。Please leave your phone number so that we can contact you promptly.
以免so as to avoid; lestConjunction5
出门前检查一下门窗，以免发生意外。Check the doors and windows before you go out, to avoid accidents.
与其…不如rather than … it would be better to …Conjunction5
与其在家等消息，不如直接去公司问问。Rather than wait at home for news, you'd do better to go straight to the company and ask.
The rejected option follows 与其, the preferred one 不如.
宁可would ratherConjunction4
我宁可多花点儿钱，也不想住那么远。I'd rather spend a bit more than live so far away.
宁 reads nìng here; usually 宁可…也不.
宁愿would rather; prefer toConjunction4
他宁愿自己辛苦一点，也不愿意麻烦别人。He would rather work a bit harder himself than trouble other people.
Close to 宁可, with more stress on one's own willingness.
加之in addition; on top of thatConjunction5
这几天工作太忙，加之没睡好，他终于病倒了。He has been very busy these last few days and, on top of that, has slept badly, so in the end he fell ill.
Written partner of 加上; adds a further cause.
倘若if; supposingConjunction5
倘若明天天气不好，活动将改在室内举行。Should the weather be bad tomorrow, the event will be moved indoors.
Formal and written; in speech 如果 or 要是.
若是ifConjunction5
若是有人问起，就说我出差了。If anyone asks, say I'm away on business.
反之conversely; otherwiseConjunction5
多运动身体就好，反之就容易生病。Exercise a lot and you stay healthy; conversely, you fall ill more easily.
乃至and even; and indeedConjunction5
这项发明改变了一个行业，乃至整个社会。This invention changed an industry, and indeed society as a whole.
以致with the result that (usually bad)Conjunction5
他平时不复习，以致考试没及格。He never revised during term, with the result that he failed the exam.
Introduces an unwelcome result; 以至于 is neutral about it.
固然admittedly; it is true thatConjunction5
这个办法固然好，但是成本太高。This method is good, admittedly, but it costs too much.
Concedes a point before a 但是 or 可是.
不料unexpectedly; to one's surpriseConjunction5
本来想给她一个惊喜，不料她早就知道了。I had wanted to surprise her, but it turned out she already knew.
而后after that; and thenConjunction5
先调查清楚，而后再下结论。First look into it properly, and only then draw conclusions.
继而then; and subsequentlyConjunction5
大家先是一愣，继而哈哈大笑。Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Often after 先 or 起初, for the next step in a sequence.
及其and its; and theirConjunction5
学生及其家长都可以参加开放日。Students and their parents are all welcome at the open day.
再者furthermore; moreoverConjunction5
这家店东西贵；再者，服务也不好。This shop is expensive; furthermore, the service is poor.
尚且even (… let alone)Conjunction5
大人尚且觉得累，何况孩子呢？Even adults find it tiring, let alone children.
The first half of 尚且…何况.
为此for this reason; to this endConjunction5
他想去中国留学，为此每天学两个小时中文。He wants to study in China, and to that end he studies Chinese for two hours a day.
为 is wèi here: for the sake of this.
唯有only (if); only byConjunction5
唯有坚持，才能成功。Only by persevering can you succeed.
Written partner of 只有; followed by 才.
抑或or (literary)Conjunction5
你是想继续读书，抑或直接工作？Do you want to go on studying, or start work straight away?
Rare in speech, where 还是 asks the same question.
Phrase (6)
简而言之in short; to put it brieflyPhrase5
简而言之，这个方案省钱又省时间。In short, this plan saves both money and time.
综上所述to sum up; in conclusionPhrase5
综上所述，我们认为这条路应该重新修建。To sum up, we believe this road should be rebuilt.
Opens the conclusion of an essay or a report.
换言之in other wordsPhrase5
他没说同意，换言之，就是不同意。He didn't say yes; in other words, he doesn't agree.
Written partner of 换句话说.
不仅如此not only that; what is morePhrase5
这款手机很轻；不仅如此，电池也特别耐用。This phone is very light; not only that, its battery lasts a long time too.
话虽如此that said; even soPhrase5
这份工作工资不高；话虽如此，我还是挺喜欢的。This job doesn't pay much; that said, I quite like it.
既然如此in that case; since that is soPhrase5
他说今天没空，既然如此，我们就明天再谈吧。He says he isn't free today; in that case, let's talk tomorrow.
Idiom (1)
归根结底in the final analysis; when all is said and doneIdiom5
归根结底，问题还是出在沟通上。In the final analysis, the problem lies in communication.
Time word (1)
此后after this; since thenTime word5
他三年前搬到了南方，此后我们再也没见过面。He moved south three years ago, and since then we have never seen each other again.
This list belongs to Idioms and written Chinese — five lists and 201 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.
