Comparison of '接着' (jiēzhe) and '然后' (ránhòu)

Description

Both '接着' (jiēzhe) and '然后' (ránhòu) are adverbs used to indicate the sequence of actions. They are often translated as "then" or "next" in English, but they have subtle differences in their usage and nuance.

接着 (jiēzhe)

'接着' (jiēzhe) emphasizes the immediate continuation of an action, often implying that the following action happens right after the previous one without any interruption. It can be translated as "then" or "next" but with a sense of continuity.

Examples

• 他听了老师的话，接着开始做作业。(Tā tīngle lǎoshī de huà, jiēzhe kāishǐ zuò zuòyè.) - He listened to the teacher, and then immediately started doing his homework.
• 吃完饭接着看电视。(Chī wán fàn jiēzhe kàn diànshì.) - After finishing eating, then immediately watched TV.

然后 (ránhòu)

'然后' (ránhòu) is used to indicate the next step in a sequence of actions, without necessarily implying immediate succession. It is often translated as "then" or "after that" and can be used in a broader sense of sequencing.

Examples

• 我先去超市，然后去银行。(Wǒ xiān qù chāoshì, ránhòu qù yínháng.) - I first went to the supermarket, then went to the bank.
• 他做完作业，然后看电视。(Tā zuò wán zuòyè, ránhòu kàn diànshì.) - He finished his homework, then watched TV.

Key Points

• '接着' (jiēzhe) emphasizes immediate continuation and is used when actions follow one another without interruption.
• '然后' (ránhòu) indicates the next action in a sequence, without necessarily implying immediacy.
• Use '接着' for actions that happen right after each other, and '然后' for general sequencing of events.