{{Grammar Box}} You will often come across 因为……所以…… (yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...) in both written and spoken Chinese. This pattern will give your Chinese a clear logical structure, and can help make you more persuasive. == Using 因为 (yīnwèi) by Itself to Explain Causes == A common way to explain causes in Chinese is with 因为 (yīnwèi). This is equivalent to "because" in English. Usually 因为 (yīnwèi) will begin a new phrase in a sentence. === Structure === In this structure, we first state the result, and then give the reason in the next statement after the 因为 (yīnwèi).
Result, 因为 + Reason
=== Examples ===
* 他 学 得 很 快， 因为 他 很 聪明。Tā xué de hěn kuài, yīnwèi tā hěn cōngming.He learns fast because he is smart. * 我 爱 吃 四川 菜， 因为 很 辣。 Wǒ ài chī Sìchuān cài, yīnwèi hěn là. I love eating Sichuan food because it's very spicy. * 我 在 学习 中文 ， 因为 我 想 去 中国。Wǒ zài xuéxí Zhōngwén, yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó.I am studying Chinese because I want to go to China. * 我 不 喜欢 她，因为 她 不 友好。Wǒ bù xǐhuan tā, yīnwèi tā bù yǒuhǎo.I don't like her because she is very unfriendly. * 今天 我们 很 忙，因为 有 很 多 工作。Jīntiān wǒmen hěn máng, yīnwèi yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò. We are very busy today because we have lots of work.
== Using 所以 (suǒyǐ) by Itself to Explain Results == Just as 因为 (yīnwèi) can be used to explain causes, 所以 (suǒyǐ) can be used to explain results. This is the equivalent of "so…" or "therefore…" in English. === Structure === This pattern is similar to the expression using both 因为 (yīnwèi) and 所以 (suǒyǐ), but it leaves out the beginning 因为 (yīnwèi). This structure is more informal.
Reason, 所以 + Result
=== Examples ===
* 汉字 太 难 了，所以 我 不 想 学 。Hànzì tài nán le, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng xué.Chinese characters are too hard, so I don't want to study them. * 她 很 漂亮，所以 很 多 男孩 喜欢 她。Tā hěn piàoliang, suǒyǐ hěn duō nánhái xǐhuan tā.She is beautiful, so a lot of boys like her. * 他 找到 工作 了， 所以 很 高兴。Tā zhǎodào gōngzuò le, suǒyǐ hěn gāoxìng.He found a job so he's happy. * 我 太 忙 了，所以 没有 时间 给 你 打 电话。Wǒ tài máng le, suǒyǐ méiyǒu shíjiān gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.I was too busy, so I didn't have time to give you a call. * 我们 公司 有 很 多 外国人，所以 我们 要 说 英文。Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu hěn duō wàiguó rén, suǒyǐ wǒmen yào shuō Yīngwén.There are a lot of foreigners in our company, so we need to speak English.
== Using 因为 (yīnwèi) and 所以 (suǒyǐ) Together == The full pattern 因为……所以…… (yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...) is used to clearly indicate cause and effect. They could be thought of as equating to: "Since ___ happened, so ___ happened." It sounds weird to use both "since" and "so" in one sentence in English, but it makes everything crystal clear in Chinese. === Structure ===
因为 + Cause, 所以 + Effect
This expresses that because of ''cause'', therefore there is a ''result''. === Examples ===
* 因为 我 有 一个 中国 女朋友，所以 我 要 学 中文。Yīnwèi wǒ yǒu yī gè Zhōngguó nǚpéngyou, suǒyǐ wǒ yào xué Zhōngwén.Since I have a Chinese girlfriend, I need to study Chinese. * 因为 他 生病 了，所以 没 去 上课。 Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ méi qù shàngkè.Since he was sick, he didn't go to class. * 因为 我 很 累，所以 要 休息。Yīnwèi wǒ hěn lèi, suǒyǐ yào xiūxi.I'm very tired, so I want to rest. * 因为 太 远 了，所以 我 不 想 去。Yīnwèi tài yuǎn le, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng qù.Since it's too far, I don't want to go. * 因为 太 忙， 所以 我们 没有 时间 吃 中饭。 Yīnwèi tài máng, suǒyǐ wǒmen méiyǒu shíjiān chī zhōngfàn.We were too busy, so none of us had time to eat lunch.
==See also== *[[Stating the effect before the cause]] (advanced article) == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 272-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 79) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 108) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] ===Websites=== * Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0201.html How to use 因为 and 由于] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Similar|Stating the Effect before the Cause}} {{Similar|"Then…" with "name"}} {{Similar|Because" with "er" Indicating Effect}} {{Similar|"Since" with "jiran"}} {{Similar|"Therefore" with "yinci"}} {{Basic Grammar|因为|A2|因为⋯⋯ 所以⋯⋯|因为 饿 了，所以 吃饭。|grammar point|ASGTDUJO}} {{Rel char|所以}} {{Rel char|以}} {{Used for|Expressing result}} {{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}} {{Used for|Sequencing events in time}} {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} {{Translation|because}} {{Translation|so}} {{Translation|therefore}}