For one thing… for another… (一则…二则)

Structure 一则 + reason 1，二则 + reason 2 （…三则…）

一则…二则… (yīzé… èrzé…) lists two (or more) reasons for the same fact: "for one thing…, for another…". 他没去，一则没空，二则不感兴趣 = "he didn't go: for one thing he had no time, for another he wasn't interested". It is the more cultivated, written cousin of 一来…二来… (HSK 5), which sounds more colloquial; the meaning is identical, but 一则…二则… belongs to essays and the press. It can extend with 三则…. 则 is read zé.

Examples

他tā没méi去qù，一yī则zé没méi空kòng，二èr则zé不bù感gǎn兴xìng趣qù。
He didn't go: for one thing he had no time, for another he wasn't interested.
搬bān到dào郊jiāo区qū，一yī则zé房fáng租zū便pián宜yi，二èr则zé空kōng气qì好hǎo。
He moved to the suburbs: for one thing the rent is cheap, for another the air is good.
公gōng司sī决jué定dìng缓huǎn发fā新xīn品pǐn，一yī则zé资zī金jīn不bù足zú，二èr则zé时shí机jī未wèi到dào。
The company decided to delay the launch: for one thing funds are short, for another the timing isn't right.

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