而

• Coordinate/Additive: Used to join similar qualities or actions ("and," "as well as," "moreover").
• Adversative/Contrastive: Used when the second element complicates, contradicts, or qualifies the first ("but," "yet," "however," "nevertheless").
• Sequential/Temporal: Connects two verbs to indicate a progression of action or a resulting state ("and then," "subsequently").

• Connective particle used to link words or clauses.
• Particle of manner or result: signals that the following action is performed in accordance with or as a consequence of the preceding description ("thus," "so," "in this way," "accordingly").

• 與 (yǔ): More strictly additive or inclusive; less likely to signal contrast or sequential transition than 而.
• 且 (qiě): Often suggests simultaneity ("while") or further addition ("moreover"), whereas 而 is more fluid regarding the temporal or logical gap between elements.

In early philosophical texts, the distinction between sequence and contrast may be fluid. If a passage seems logically contradictory, consider whether the author is presenting a progression where one state naturally leads to its opposite, rather than a hard logical pivot.