Words that end in 然 (ran2) are usually adverbs that answer the question "How? In what way?"
| 當然 | dang1 ran2 | certainly, of course |
| 顯然 | xian3 ran2 | obviously |
| 突然 | tu2 ran2 | suddenly |
| 忽然 | hu1 ran2 | suddenly |
| 居然 | jü1 ran2 | unexpectedly |
| 竟然 | jing4 ran2 | unexpectedly |
| 果然 | guo3 ran2 | as expected |
| 偶然 | ou3 ran2 | accidentally, by chance |
| 貿然 | mao4 ran2 | hastily |
| 依然 | yi1 ran2 | as before |
| 亦然 | yi4 ran2 | likewise, similarly |
| 公然 | gong1 ran2 | publicly, openly |
| 昂然 | ang2 ran2 | boldly, proudly |
| 欣然 | xin1 ran2 | gladly, with pleasure |
| 徒然 | tu2 ran2 | in vain |
| 固然 | gu4 ran2 | firmly, without a doubt |
| 必然 | bi4 ran2 | inevitably |
| 默然 | mo4 ran2 | silently, tacitly |
| 赫然 | he4 ran2 | angrily |
| 傲然 | ao4 ran2 | haughtily, arrogantly |
Another group of 然 endings are conjunctions:
| 雖然 | sui1 ran2 | although |
| 既然 | ji4 ran2 | since, because |