About
Originally a phono-semantic compound, 然 uses the fire radical 灬 at its base to indicate the meaning of burning, while the upper part 肰, composed of the meat radical ⺼ and the dog radical 犬, provides the pronunciation. Its earliest sense was “to burn,” a meaning later transferred to the character 燃 (formed by adding another fire radical) to prevent ambiguity. As its original concrete sense faded, 焻 developed abstract and grammatical roles: it can function as an adjective meaning “correct” or “right,” and is commonly used as a suffix indicating a state of being or as an adverbial marker.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们先吃饭然后看电影。
我当然喜欢这本书。
天空突然下起雨来。
这里的风景很自然。
虽然下雨，但我们还是去了。
他果然通过了考试。
他竟然忘记了她的生日。
他欣然接受了我们的邀请。