Difference between 而, 但 and 和

Question

和 means 'and', and so does 而. What is the difference between the two. I also know that 而 means 'but', and the second question is what is the difference between 而 and 但. Give me an example sentence, please.

Answer 1

When you use 而, you are always expressing some kind of adversative meaning weaker than 但. Most of the time they can substitute each other but not 100% certain.

Example 1: both are fine

这件事很难，而那件事很容易。 => This thing is difficult while that one is easy.
这件事很难，但那件事很容易。 => This thing is difficult but that one is easy.

Example 2: 而 is better here

他没有出国，而是留在了国内。 => He stayed in home country instead of going abroad.

Example 3: 但 is better

这杯水不甜，但富含营养。 => This cup of water is not sweet but full of nutrition.

The differencies are subtle, taste them in more practice.

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It's clearer to distinguish 而 from 和. Remember 和 has no adversative meaning, and in most cases it connects objects:

Tom and Jerry are good friends.
Correct: 汤姆和杰瑞是好朋友。
Wrong: 汤姆而杰瑞是好朋友。

Answer 2

The corresponding is:

 and<->和
 while<->而
 but<->但

when they are used as conjunction. One want to give a comparison when he use 而.

Answer 3

和 and 而 can be substituted occasionally when 而 connects two adjectives or verbs, but it is not very natural. I'd think it is similar to the words "and" in English, or other European language. Some examples:

她堅強而果斷的態度十分吸引人=》她堅強和果斷的態度十分吸引人。

他們堅持和推進了問題的解決=》他們堅持而（而且）推進了問題的解決