You may usually see「 而 ér 」in Chinese sentence, but hard to understand the meaning.
People use this word from ancient times until now.
Therefore, it may hear like ancient Chinese in some usages.
I take some example to explain it.
When「而 」 is a "conjunction" in clause：
Usage 1
e.g. Quantity is less ,but quality good.
少而精
shǎo ér jīng
「A + 而 + B」
To describe that the subject (thing/stuff/people/status) has nature A and B.
Pay attention that the nature A and B should be a parallel or progressive word.
The usage is similar with "..is A...but also B"
e.g. "less / good ", "ugly / friendly" → OK
"less/ much", "ugly /handsome" → Wrong
Usage 2
e.g. To replace it
取而代之
qǔ ér dài zhī
This example is changed from「取代(Replace)」
The purpose for changing is to make the sentence be more literary and cool.
Literary translation： 取 take、而 to/and、代 replace、之 it.
「 behavior 1 + 而 +behavior 2」
This is a special way to connect 2 behaviors.
＊ Behavior 1 takes place before behavior 2
＊ This is closed to ancient usage , so people only use it for some phrases.
e.g. Born with the possession of knowledge
(People usually use for biological natures or describe for Saint, Buddha...)
生而知之
shēng ér zhī zhī
e.g. Big effort but little effect
費[费]力大而成效小
fèi lì dà ér shōu chéng xiào
It's similar with "A ,but B"
A and B should be "opposite words".＊「費力 fèi lì」indicates "spend (much) effort "
＊「成效 chéng xiào」means "effectiveness"
e.g. didn't inform, but take it.
不告而取
bú gào ér qǔ
Usage 4
e.g. Fight for justice
為正義而戰
为 义 战
wèi zhèngyì ér zhàn
Because of /In order to A , so do behavior B or behavior B takes place
e.g. Died for love
為(了)愛而死
为 爱
wèi (le) ài ér sǐ
e.g. Died because of love
因(為)愛而死
yīn (wèi) ài ér sǐ
When「而 」is a suffix for some words：
e.g.「因而 yīn ér」means "thus"
Usage 2
e.g.「而且 ér qiě」means " and "
Usage 3
e.g.「并且 bìng qiě」means " and "
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