then
/ðen/ (bre, ipa) · [ðˈɛn] /ðen/ (ame, ipa) · [ðˈɛn] /ˈt͟hen/ (ame, mw)
then — 副詞
1. referring to a particular moment — whether earlier or later — that has already b
當時
提到的過去或未來時刻
referring to a particular moment — whether earlier or later — that has already been mentioned or is already understood by the listener
The house was much smaller back then; they had only two rooms.
那棟房子當時小多了；他們只有兩間房間。
temporal anchor 'back then'
I will call you on Monday morning and explain everything then.
我週一早上會打電話給你，到時候再解釋一切。
future reference with 'then'
Camille was still a student then and had very little money.
Camille 當時還是個學生，錢非常少。
The park was full of cherry blossoms then, so we took many photos.
那個公園當時開滿了櫻花，所以我們拍了很多照片。
By the year 2010, the town was already growing fast; life was very different then.
到了 2010 年，那個小鎮已經發展得很快；當時的生活很不一樣。
- at that time
more formal; interchangeable in most temporal contexts
- back then
informal, emphatic reference to a past period
- at the time
refers to the same period as a known event
- now
the present moment, as opposed to a past or future time
用法筆記
Often paired with 'back' (back then) for past emphasis, or 'by' (by then) for a deadline in the future. 'At that time' is a more formal alternative.
常見錯誤
2. immediately after something else has happened or after doing something, showing
然後；接著
表示順序的下一步
immediately after something else has happened or after doing something, showing the next step or event in a series
First peel the potatoes, then boil them for twenty minutes.
先把馬鈴薯削皮，然後煮二十分鐘。
pattern: First [A], then [B]
Romi got off the bus and then walked straight to the library.
Romi 下了公車，然後直接走到圖書館。
We went to the museum first and then had lunch at a Thai restaurant nearby.
我們先去了博物館，然後在附近一家泰國餐廳吃午餐。
Add the eggs one at a time, then stir the mixture until it is smooth.
一次加一顆蛋，然後攪拌到均勻為止。
Esteban will give a short talk, and then the audience can ask questions.
Esteban 會先簡短講幾句話，然後聽眾可以發問。
- afterwards
slightly more formal; focuses on the time after an event
- next
emphasises position in a sequence; often used with 'first', 'next', 'finally'
- subsequently
very formal, mostly written
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'first' in the pattern 'First A, then B'. Can be used with commas (then, ...) or without, though the comma is more typical in written English when 'then' begins a new clause.
常見錯誤
3. used to add another item, fact, or question to what has already been mentioned
此外；還有
添加額外資訊
used to add another item, fact, or question to what has already been mentioned
The flat is bright and spacious, and then it has a lovely balcony too.
這間公寓明亮又寬敞，而且還有一個漂亮的陽臺。
pattern: [statement], and then [additional item]
We need rice and vegetables, and then the drinks for the party too.
我們需要米和青菜，還有派對的飲料。
Minh speaks English and French fluently, and then a little Korean as well.
Minh 能流利地說英語和法語，而且還會一點韓語。
The hotel has a pool and a gym, and then a garden at the back.
這間飯店有游泳池和健身房，後面還有一個花園。
- also
more common and direct; 'then' adds a slight sense of 'and on top of that'
- besides
introduces an additional point, sometimes as an afterthought
- furthermore
formal register, mostly written
用法筆記
Often follows 'and' ('and then') when adding to a list in spoken English. More formal alternatives include 'moreover', 'furthermore', and 'in addition'.
4. used to show what result, conclusion, or necessary action follows from something
那；那麼
表示根據前述的結果或推論
used to show what result, conclusion, or necessary action follows from something that has just been stated or agreed upon
If the rain does not stop by noon, then we will cancel the picnic.
如果中午之前雨還不停，那麼我們就取消野餐。
conditional pattern: If [condition], then [result]
You hate the street noise, so why not move somewhere quieter then?
你討厭街上的噪音，那何不搬到安靜一點的地方呢？
Amani finished all her work — then she can take the afternoon off.
Amani 做完所有工作了——那她下午可以休息。
So you think the new bus route is faster? Then let us try it tomorrow.
所以你覺得新的公車路線比較快？那我們明天試試看。
If nobody has any objections, then I will sign the agreement right now.
如果沒有人反對，那麼我現在就簽署這份協議。
- so
more direct causal link; used more in everyday speech
- therefore
formal register, mostly in writing or formal speech
- in that case
stronger emphasis on the conditional; spoken, polite
文法句型
if...then...
用法筆記
In conditional sentences, 'then' is often optional ('If it rains, [then] we stay home'). It is more common in conversation than in formal writing. Distinguished from 'so' and 'therefore' — 'then' focuses on the logical next step rather than causation, and is used more in suggestions and conclusions than in strict cause-effect reasoning.
常見錯誤
then — 名詞
1. a particular moment in the past or future that has already been referred to, usu
那時
已提及的特定時間
a particular moment in the past or future that has already been referred to, usually used after a preposition such as 'by', 'before', 'since', 'until', or 'from'
Tamar promised to send the report by Friday, but nothing had arrived by then.
Tamar 答應星期五之前交報告，但到那時什麼都沒送來。
pattern: 'by then' for a deadline
I moved to Taipei in 2015 and have lived there ever since then.
我 2015 年搬到臺北，從那時起就一直住在那裡。
The shop closes at six, so we need to get there before then.
這家店六點關門，所以我們得在那之前趕到。
Constanza started her new job in March and has been very happy from then on.
Constanza 三月開始新工作，從那時起就一直很開心。
The library is closed for repairs until then, so borrow what you need now.
圖書館在那之前關閉整修，所以請現在就把需要的書借好。
- that time
used when 'then' alone would be ungrammatical, especially as a subject
- that moment
more specific; implies a particular instant
文法句型
by then
before then
since then
until then
from then on
用法筆記
The noun 'then' almost always follows a preposition. It cannot be used alone as a subject or object ('*Then was a good time' is ungrammatical). The most common fixed phrases are 'by then', 'since then', 'before then', 'until then', and 'from then on'.
常見錯誤
then — 形容詞
- thenpositive
- thennercomparative
- thennestsuperlative
1. used before a noun to describe what role or situation someone or something had a
當時的
描述過去某時的身分或狀態
used before a noun to describe what role or situation someone or something had at an earlier time that has already been mentioned
The then principal of the school retired after thirty years of service.
當時的校長在服務三十年後退休了。
pattern: 'the then + [role noun]'
The then manager of the factory had no idea the building was unsafe.
當時的工廠經理完全不知道那棟建築不安全。
Her then husband was a well-known architect in Barcelona.
她當時的丈夫是巴塞隆納一位知名的建築師。
The then president of the university gave a farewell speech at the ceremony.
當時的大學校長在典禮上發表了告別演說。
The then government faced strong criticism for its decision.
當時的政府因其決策面臨嚴厲批評。
- at that time
adverbial phrase; cannot replace 'then' before a noun ('the at-that-time manager' is ungrammatical)
- former
implies the person no longer holds the position, while 'then' simply anchors to a past reference point
文法句型
the then + noun
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in journalism and formal writing. It only appears before a noun (attributive position) and cannot be used predicatively ('*the manager was then' is incorrect). The noun that follows is usually a role, title, or state (manager, president, husband, government).