然
Character learning workspace

rán · certainly

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 然

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 然 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

12Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

灬Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 然 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 然

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

ránWords pronounced rán
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 然 sits in each complete thought.

Suī rán tā shì zhōng guó rén, dàn tā bú huì shuō zhōng wén.虽然他是中国人,但他不会说中文。

Although he is Chinese, he doesn't speak Chinese.

Source: Tatoeba #10019733 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nà dāng rán, shì wǒ zuò de.那当然,是我做的。

Well, of course, I did that.

Source: Tatoeba #9779577 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā yì bǎ lā guò tā, rán hòu wěn le xià qù.他一把拉过她,然后吻了下去。

He drew her to him and kissed her on the mouth.

Source: Tatoeba #8496263 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ tū rán xiǎng bù qǐ tā de míng zì.我突然想不起她的名字。

I can't recall her name at the moment.

Source: Tatoeba #363565 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ hū rán xiǎng qǐ le wǒ sǐ qù de māma.我忽然想起了我死去的妈妈。

I suddenly thought of my dead mother.

Source: Tatoeba #343382 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhège xiǎng fǎ réng rán zài wǒ xīn zhōng.这个想法仍然在我心中。

The idea is still in my mind.

Source: Tatoeba #2032253 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 然 in context

  1. Say rán, then recall the core meaning: certainly.
  2. Write all 12 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 虽然 (suī rán), meaning “although”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 然 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.