Difference between revisions of "Stating the effect before the cause"

Revision as of 09:28, 9 November 2020

Level

B2 / HSK5
Level

B2
Level

HSK5
Similar to
Similar to
- Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi" (HSK2)
- Expressing purpose with "weile" (HSK3)
- Expressing "as a result" with "jieguo" (HSK4)
- Expressing "due to…" with "youyu" (HSK4)
Used for

Sequencing events in time, Indicating cause and effect
Keywords

是, 因为, 所以, 于, 由于, 之所以

之所以⋯⋯是因为⋯⋯ (zhī suǒyǐ... shì yīnwèi...) can be translated as “the reason why... is because” and can be used if the speaker wishes to state the effect before the cause. It's normally used in somewhat formal speech.

Structure

之所以 ⋯⋯ ，是 + 因为 / 为了 / 想 ⋯⋯

Examples

她 之所以 问这么多 是因为 她关心你们。Tā zhī suǒyǐ wèn zhème duō shì yīnwèi tā guānxīn nǐmen.The reason she asked this much was because she cares about you guys.
我 之所以 不喜欢他 是因为 他太疯狂了。Wǒ zhī suǒyǐ bù xǐhuan tā shì yīnwèi tā tài fēngkuáng le.The reason why I don't like him is because he's too crazy.
我们 之所以 迟到了 是因为 路上堵车。Wǒmen zhī suǒyǐ chídào le shì yīnwèi lùshang dǔchē.We were late because we were stuck in a traffic jam.
小朋友 之所以 哭 是因为 我没有给她买巧克力。Xiǎopéngyou zhī suǒyǐ kū shì yīnwèi wǒ méiyǒu gěi tā mǎi qiǎokèlì.My child cried because I didn't buy her any chocolate.
路上 之所以 有很多人 是因为 今天天气好。 Lùshang zzhī suǒyǐ yǒu hěnduō rén shì yīnwèi jīntiān tiānqì hǎo.There were a lot of people on the road because it was a nice day.
你 之所以 能被录取 是因为 你很优秀。Nǐ zhī suǒyǐ néng bèi lùqǔ shì yīnwèi nǐ hěn yōuxiù.You were accepted because you are very good.
我 之所以 没告诉你是不想让你担心。Wǒ zhī suǒyǐ méi gàosù nǐ shì bù xiǎng ràng nǐ dānxīn.The reason why I didn't tell you is that I didn't want you to worry about it.
他 之所以 放弃了那份工作 是因为 他找到了更好的机会。Tā zhī suǒyǐ fàngqì le nà fèn gōngzuò shì yīnwèi tā zhǎodào le gèng hǎo de jīhuì.The reason why he gave up that job was that he found himself a better opportunity.
我们 之所以 保密 是想 给她一个惊喜。Wǒmen zhī suǒyǐ bǎomì shì xiǎng gěi tā yīgè jīngxǐ.The reason why we kept it a secret is that we wanted to give her a surprise.
公司 之所以 花钱培训你们 是想 让你们越来越专业。Gōngsī zhī suǒyǐ huā qián péixùn nǐmen shì xiǎng ràng nǐmen yuè lái yuè zhuānyè.The reason why the company spends money on your training is to help you become more and more professional.

Sources and further reading

Books

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 *路上 <em>之 所以</em> 有 很多 人 <em>是 因为</em> 今天 天气 好。 <span class="pinyin">Lùshang z<em>zhī suǒyǐ</em> yǒu hěnduō rén <em>shì yīnwèi</em> jīntiān tiānqì hǎo.</span><span class="trans">There were a lot of people on the road because it was a nice day.</span>
 *你 <em>之 所以</em> 能 被 录取 <em>是 因为</em> 你 很 优秀。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zhī suǒyǐ</em> néng bèi lùqǔ <em>shì yīnwèi</em> nǐ hěn yōuxiù.</span><span class="trans">You were accepted because you are very good.</span>
-*我 <em>之 所以</em> 没 告诉 你 <em>是 </em> 不 想 让 你 担心 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zhī suǒyǐ</em> méi gàosù nǐ <em>shì</em> bùxiǎng ràng nǐ dānxīn.</span><span class="trans">The reason why I didn't tell you is that I didn't want you to worry about it.</span>
+*我 <em>之 所以</em> 没 告诉 你 <em>是 </em> 不 想 让 你 担心 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zhī suǒyǐ</em> méi gàosù nǐ <em>shì</em> bù xiǎng ràng nǐ dānxīn.</span><span class="trans">The reason why I didn't tell you is that I didn't want you to worry about it.</span>
 *他 <em>之 所以</em> 放弃 了 那份 工作 <em>是 因为</em> 他 找到 了 更好 的 机会 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zhī suǒyǐ</em> fàngqì le nà fèn gōngzuò <em>shì yīnwèi</em> tā zhǎodào le gèng hǎo de jīhuì.</span><span class="trans">The reason why he gave up that job was that he found himself a better opportunity.</span>
 *我们 <em>之 所以</em> 保密 <em>是 想</em> 给 她 一 个 惊喜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>zhī suǒyǐ</em> bǎomì <em>shì xiǎng</em> gěi tā yīgè jīngxǐ.</span><span class="trans">The reason why we kept it a secret is that we wanted to give her a surprise.</span>