Usage of 则

[laser2302]

Hi Everyone, Have a look at the following sentence:

以色列总理沙龙则指责《日内瓦协议》“不合法”，并竭力阻止协议的签署。

Please tell me what is the usage of 则 over here.

Thanks!

[Hofmann]

It indicates that this sentence is in contrast to something before it.

[HashiriKata]

"以色列总理沙龙则指责《日内瓦协议》“不合法”，并竭力阻止协议的签署。"

Can it be something similar to 就 (= then) in this sentence?

[seaverq]

i think HashiriKata is right

It indicates that this sentence is in contrast to something before it.

则 in here

its sounds like contrary to some point before the sentence

[studentyoung]

Please tell me what is the usage of 则 over here.

According to the contexts below, 则 here means “but”, “however” to express some transitional connection, similar to 却. You can compare Arafat’s attitude on Geneva Agreements with Sharon’s in the contexts.

巴民族权力机构主席阿拉法特对协议表示赞赏,但没有正式宣布接受。以色列总理沙龙则指责《日内瓦协议》“不合法”,并竭力阻止协议的签署。

http://cache.baidu.com/c?m=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&p=9279c64ad3af52fe08e2942f5b&user=baidu

Cheers!

[tooironic]

Ah, the infamous 則. This caused me a lot of confusion when I first encountered it in my translation degree. Yes, it does show a contrast between what has been said before, however in translating it I found a lot of the time it doesn't have a direct equivalence. In some contexts, it can be disregarded completely (provided you understand the larger context and meaning beforehand of course).

[Hanlink]

則 is a throwback to a classical chinese construction and is similar here to a modern chinese 就. There may be a contrastative meaning, but not always. Here, it just simply means 'then'. If you do not have any classical chinese experience, I would be wary about trying to copy its usage, but it is not so unusual in written chinese, so it is good to be able to recognise it.

[HashiriKata]

According to the contexts below, 则 here means “but”, “however” to express some transitional connection, similar to 却.

Thanks studentyoung! Your post demonstrates clearly the importance of including the context in asking questions of this nature.

[laser2302]

Thanks a lot everyone! I'm sorry about not including the context. I just thought that it may not be necessary. Studentyoung, you found the right context. This is the exact line I came across while reading a news article.

[calibre2001]

Just to make the lesson here more complete, take note that 並 used in the sentence means 'at the same time'.

[Li Yuzuo]

at here 则 means "but, otherwise"