Discourse Markers: 其实, 当然, 反正, 总之, 那么, 然后

Not filler, but traffic signals

Words like 其实, 当然, 反正, 总之, 那么, and 然后 are easy to underestimate. They often have weak dictionary meanings: “actually,” “of course,” “anyway,” “in short,” “then,” “and then.” But in real discourse they manage expectations, stance, sequence, concession, summary, and conversational direction.

Remove one and the sentence may still be grammatically complete, but the relationship between speaker and listener changes. That is the point. Discourse markers tell the reader how to treat the next clause.

A good test is the delete test: remove the marker and ask what disappeared. Did the contrast vanish? Did the speaker’s resignation disappear? Did the transition become abrupt? Did the summary feel less final?

其实: correcting an expectation

其实 does not simply mean “actually.” It often signals that the speaker is correcting, softening, or complicating an expected view.

• 其实不是这样。 — Actually, it isn’t like that.
• 其实他已经知道了。 — The truth is, he already knew.
• 这个问题其实不难。 — This problem is actually not hard.

The hidden structure is often: “You might think X, but the real situation is Y.” In essays, interviews, and explanations, 其实 can be a gentle way to disagree.

Compare:

Learner warning: Do not use 其实 merely because English says “actually” as a filler. Actually, I went to the store may just be a conversational habit in English. In Mandarin, 其实 often implies contrast with an assumption.

当然: shared premise or concession

当然 can mean “of course,” but it does not always express arrogance or obviousness. It can introduce a shared premise, a concession, or a boundary.

• 当然也有例外。 — Of course, there are exceptions.
• 当然，这只是一个例子。 — Of course, this is only one example.
• 你当然可以不同意。 — You can, of course, disagree.

In writing, 当然 often prepares the reader for nuance. It can concede a point before returning to the main argument:

当然，价格不是唯一因素，但它仍然很重要。 Of course, price is not the only factor, but it remains important.

反正: pragmatic conclusion, resignation, or “anyway”

反正 is powerful and risky. It often means that the speaker has stopped debating the full logic and is giving a practical conclusion.

• 反正我不建议这样做。 — Anyway, I don’t recommend doing it this way.
• 反正都要去，不如早点出发。 — Since we have to go anyway, we might as well leave early.
• 你反正也不听。 — You won’t listen anyway.

It can sound casual, resigned, dismissive, or efficient. In professional writing, use it carefully. In conversation, it often marks the speaker’s bottom line.

总之: summarizing and closing

总之 signals that details are being compressed into a conclusion.

• 总之，问题还在。 — In short, the problem remains.
• 总之，我们需要重新评估这个方案。 — In summary, we need to reassess this plan.

It is useful in essays, reports, and explanations. It can also sound heavy if overused in casual conversation. A close cousin is 总的来说, which is often softer: “generally speaking.”

那么: transition and logical next step

那么 can be a transition marker, a logical connector, or a way to return control to the next question.

• 那么下一步是什么？ — Then what is the next step?
• 如果情况是这样，那么我们需要调整计划。 — If that is the case, then we need to adjust the plan.
• 那么，我们今天先讲到这里。 — Well then, we’ll stop here for today.

In presentations and teaching, 那么 often marks movement from one stage to another. In formal logical structures, it supports if-then relations.

然后: sequence, narrative chain, and speech habit

然后 literally means “after that / then,” but in speech it often chains events or thoughts.

• 然后他们就搬走了。 — Then they moved away.
• 我先去了银行，然后去公司。 — I first went to the bank, then to the company.
• 然后呢？ — And then? / What happened next?

Learners sometimes overuse 然后 because English speakers overuse “and then.” Native speakers also use it heavily in casual speech, but polished writing often varies the structure or deletes unnecessary instances.

Register map

Delete-test examples

1. 其实不是这样。 Delete 其实 → 不是这样。 The contradiction remains, but the correction of expectation is less explicit.
2. 当然也有例外。 Delete 当然 → 也有例外。 The concession remains, but the speaker’s “I acknowledge this” stance weakens.
3. 反正我不建议这样做。 Delete 反正 → 我不建议这样做。 The recommendation remains, but the “bottom line / anyway” tone disappears.
4. 总之问题还在。 Delete 总之 → 问题还在。 The conclusion remains, but the summarizing function disappears.

Practice: choose the marker

Fill in the best marker.

1. You want to gently contradict a common assumption: ___，情况没有那么简单。
2. You want to concede an exception: ___，也不是所有人都这样。
3. You want to summarize after a long explanation: ___，我们还需要更多数据。
4. You want to give a resigned bottom line: ___，我不想再讨论这个问题。
5. You want to move to the next agenda item: ___，我们来看第二个问题。

Suggested answers: 其实, 当然, 总之, 反正, 那么.

Build a discourse marker delete-test lab. The user sees a paragraph with markers highlighted. Clicking a marker removes it and shows what pragmatic force disappeared: contrast, concession, resignation, transition, summary, or sequence. Add register labels: casual, neutral, formal, essay-like, speech-heavy.

Expanded quality pass additions

Delete-test upgrade. The delete test should be a central reusable tool. Remove the discourse marker, then ask what vanished: correction, concession, resignation, transition, summary, or sequence. The sentence may remain grammatically complete, but the speaker’s management of the conversation changes.

Learner misuse warning. 然后 is often overused by learners as a universal connector. It works in narrative chaining, but it can sound childish or vague in analytical writing where 因此, 另外, 接着, 于是, 同时, 另一方面 may be more precise. 反正 can sound dismissive or resigned, so it should not be treated as a neutral “anyway” in formal writing.

Article expansion target. Add mini-dialogues with and without the marker. This will show that discourse markers are not filler; they are argument steering.

Remediation and upgrade pass additions

Add the missing pragmatic layer

The discourse-marker article should make one point unavoidable: these words do not mainly add dictionary meaning; they tell the listener how to process the next move. The first draft explained this, but the remediation pass should add a stronger “what disappeared?” test.

Stronger delete test

Add examples where deleting the marker leaves grammar intact but damages stance:

其实，我不是反对这个方案。    Not opposition; correction of an assumption.
我不是反对这个方案。          Plain denial, less context-sensitive.

当然，成本也会上升。          Concedes a known drawback.
成本也会上升。                Adds a fact without concession management.

反正我不建议现在签。          Practical conclusion after weighing factors.
我不建议现在签。              Direct recommendation only.

This makes the reader feel why discourse markers matter.

Register remediation

The article should distinguish speech-heavy and writing-heavy uses. 然后 is normal for narrative sequence, but repeated 然后 in a formal essay sounds loose. 总之 is useful in essays and presentations but may sound overly summarizing in a casual one-line reply. 反正 can sound casual, resigned, stubborn, or dismissive depending on tone.

Interactive upgrade

The module should let users choose among markers for the same clause pair:

____ 成本会上升，我们还是要做。

Possible outputs:

• 虽然 成本会上升，我们还是要做。 Concession structure.
• 当然 成本会上升，但我们还是要做。 Granted premise.
• 反正 成本会上升，我们也得做。 Practical resignation.
• 总之 成本会上升不是唯一问题。 Summary shift.

This makes marker choice an argument-management skill rather than a vocabulary quiz.