Definitions
(conjunction)
and; moreover; yet
(adverb)
for the time being; about to
Etymology
Originally a pictograph of a sacrificial altar. The current meaning "moreover" is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "且" derives from an early pictographic depiction of a ritual altar, a form that influenced its initial connection to ceremonial and ancestral contexts. Its structure, now composed of a few horizontal and vertical strokes, was progressively refined from more elaborate visual representations across historical periods. Originally denoting a tangible object, the character gradually acquired abstract grammatical functions, evolving into an adverb and conjunction in classical usage to express temporal continuity, addition, or provisional conditions. In contemporary language, it serves primarily as a logical particle in constructions like "而且" meaning "and moreover", or in phrases such as "暂且" indicating "temporarily", marking its transition from a noun to a versatile grammatical element.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他很聪明而且勤奋。
我完成了作业并且检查了。
今天下雨，况且我很忙。
我们暂且休息一下。
他不仅学习好且乐于助人。
这部电影很有趣而且很有教育意义。
此项任务艰巨且时间紧迫。
他且战且退，逐渐脱离了危险。