……，进而……
and then go on to; and further
Structure
第一步 ， 进而 更进一步的行动或结果
What it means
“And then go on to; and further”: 进 is “to advance”, so the step after 进而 builds on the first and goes further or higher.
How it is built
First step ， 进而 + further step, usually with the same subject: 他先是喜欢看古装剧，进而对中国历史产生了兴趣 (he liked costume dramas, then went on to take an interest in Chinese history).
When to use it
Formal: writing, speeches and reports (first met in 2-23). 继而 only says what came next; 从而 (3-1) gives a result or what the first step achieves: 从而提高了效率.
Watch out
Not for two unrelated actions. ✗ 他吃完饭，进而去看电影 ✓ 他吃完饭，然后去看电影. The second step must grow out of the first.
Examples
朱元璋先占领江南，进而向北进军。
Zhu Yuanzhang took the lower Yangtze first and then went on to march north.
我们要先了解学生的困难，进而找到帮助他们的办法。
We must first understand the students’ difficulties and then go on to find ways to help them.
他先是喜欢看古装剧，进而对中国历史产生了浓厚的兴趣。
He started out liking costume dramas and went on to develop a deep interest in Chinese history.
Learn this in Lesson 95 · HSK 6–7: 元朝：马背上的帝国 (The Yuan: an empire on horseback)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →