軍修, 4:

A 而 B 修道 而 保法





虛實, 1:

A 而 B 凡 ) 先處戰地 而 待敵 ( 者 佚 )







始計, 2:

始計, 3:

A B 而 C 經之以五事 校之以計 而 索其 情 可與之死 可與之生 而 不畏危

兵勢, 4:

A B 而 C 紛紛紜紜， 鬥亂， 而 不可亂也 渾渾沌沌， 形圓， 而 不可敗 也

The character 而is usually read as a particle that connects two verbal phrases in any variation on the pattern A而B. In this pattern, 而 is often understood as simply functioning in a coordinate, subordinate, temporal, logical, causative or conditional way, indicating the relationship between units A and B.This A而B pattern is common in the 孫子兵法:修道而保法.. Coordinate usage, translated as凡先處戰地而待敵者佚.Subordinate usage, indicating a temporal sequence, translated asHowever, occasionally in the 孫子兵法, 而 is used in an A, B 而C sentence pattern, where the logical connection is not between A and B, but between A and B, and C. In such sentences, A and B are, and may even be, but exist in ato C.經之以五事，校之以計，而索其情.Subordinate usage, indicating a strong logical connection between method and outcome, translated as可與之死，可與之生而不畏危.Subordinate usage, indicating a strong contrast between A and B, and C, translated asNote that in this example, the A and B phrases are nearly, structurally binding them together as athat exists in relation to C. This is also the case for two further examples of this A, B而C pattern.紛紛紜紜，鬥亂，而不可亂也。渾渾沌沌，形圓，而不可敗也.Subordinate usage, again indicating a strong contrast between A and B, and C, translated asThis semantically important A, B而C pattern is not radically different from the common A而B pattern, but it is nevertheless an interesting usage of 而. There may be a need for more nuanced investigations into 而.