Difference between revisions of "Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
You will often come across “因为 (yīnwèi)... , 所以 (suǒyǐ)..." in written Chinese as well as spoken Chinese. Better get used to it!
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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.
  
== Structure ==
+
== Using 因为 (yīnwèi) by Itself to Explain Causes ==
  
"因为 (yīnwèi)... , 所以 (suǒyǐ)..." are used to indicate cause and effect. They are often thought of as being: "Since ___ happened, so ___ happened."
+
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).
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
因为 + Cause ,  所以 + Effect
+
Result, 因为 + Reason
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
This expresses that because of ''cause'', therefore there is a ''result''. It is quite common for 因为 (yīnwèi) to be shortened to just 为 (wèi).
+
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 他 学 得 很 快 ,<em>因为</em> 他 很 聪明 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xué de hěn kuài, <em>yīnwèi</em> tā hěn cōngming.</span><span class="trans">He learns fast because he is smart.</span>
 +
* 我 爱 吃 四川 菜 ,<em>因为</em> 很 辣 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ ài chī Sìchuān cài, <em>yīnwèi</em> hěn là.</span><span class="trans"> I love eating Sichuan food because it's very spicy.</span>
 +
* 我 在 学习 中文 ,<em>因为</em> 我 想 去 中国 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài xuéxí Zhōngwén, <em>yīnwèi</em> wǒ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó.</span><span class="trans">I am studying Chinese because I want to go to China.</span>
 +
* 我 不 喜欢 她 ,<em>因为</em> 她 不 友好 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xǐhuan tā, <em>yīnwèi</em> tā bù yǒuhǎo.</span><span class="trans">I don't like her because she is very unfriendly.</span>
 +
* 今天 我们 很 忙 ,<em>因为</em> 有 很 多 工作 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒmen hěn máng, <em>yīnwèi</em> yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans"> We are very busy today because we have lots of work.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== 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 ===
  
== Examples ==
+
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.
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Reason, 所以 + Result
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>因为</em> 我 饿了 , <em>所以</em> 我 要 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ èle, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒ yào chīfàn.</span> <span class="trans">Since I'm hungry, I will go eat.</span>
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* 汉字 太 难 了,<em>所以</em> 我 不 想 学 。<span class="pinyin">Hànzì tài nán le, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒ xiǎng xué.</span><span class="trans">Chinese characters are too hard, so I don't want to study them.</span>
* <em>因为</em> 你 迟到 了 , <em>所以</em> 要 说 “对不起” 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> nǐ chídào le, <em>suǒyǐ</em> yào shuō duìbùqǐ.</span> <span class="trans">Since you are late, you are going to say "I'm sorry".</span>
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* 漂亮,<em>所以</em> 很 多 男孩 喜欢 她。<span class="pinyin">hěn piàoliang, <em>suǒyǐ</em> hěn duō nánhái xǐhuan tā.</span><span class="trans">She is beautiful, so a lot of boys like her.</span>
* <em>因为</em> 想 去 中国 , <em>所以</em> 要 学 中文 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> xiǎng qù Zhōngguó, <em>suǒyǐ</em> yào xué Zhōngwén.</span> <span class="trans">Since I want to go to China, I am going to study Chinese.</span>
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* 他 找到 工作 了, <em>所以</em> 很 高兴。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhǎodào gōngzuò le, <em>suǒyǐ</em> hěn gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">He found a job so he's happy.</span>
* <em>因为</em> 我 会 说 中文 , <em>所以</em> 我 要 去 中国 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒ yào qù Zhōngguó.</span> <span class="trans">Since I can speak Chinese, I am going to go to China.</span>
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* 我 太 忙 了,<em>所以</em> 没有 时间 你 打 电话。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tài máng le, <em>suǒyǐ</em> méiyǒu shíjiān gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">I was too busy, so I didn't have time to give you a call.</span>
* <em>因为</em> 没有 钱 , <em>所以</em> 没有 女朋友 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> méiyǒu qián, <em>suǒyǐ</em> méiyǒu nǚpéngyou.</span> <span class="trans">I don't have any money, so I don't have a girlfriend.</span>
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* 我们 公司 有 很 多 外国人,<em>所以</em> 我们 说 英文。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu hěn duō wàiguó rén, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒmen yào shuō Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">There are a lot of foreigners in our company, so we need to speak English.</span>
* <em>因为</em> 累 , <em>所以</em> 想 休息 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> hěn lèi, <em>suǒyǐ</em> xiǎng xiūxi.</span> <span class="trans">I'm very tired, so i want to rest.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 你 不 是 我 , <em>所以</em> 你 不 明白 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> nǐ bù shì wǒ, <em>suǒyǐ</em> nǐ bù míngbai.</span> <span class="trans">Since you aren't me, you don't understand.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 他 不 在 这里 , <em>所以</em> 他 打电话 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> tā bù zài zhèlǐ, <em>suǒyǐ</em> gěi tā dǎdiànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">Since he isn't here, I called him.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 你 没 来 , <em>所以</em> 他 很 不 高兴 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> nǐ méi lái, <em>suǒyǐ</em> tā hěn bù gāoxìng.</span> <span class="trans">You didn't come, so he is very unhappy.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 太 热 , <em>所以</em> 喝 冰 可乐 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> tài rè, <em>suǒyǐ</em> yào hē bīng kělè.</span> <span class="trans">It's too hot, so I'm going to drink some iced Coke.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
+
== Using 因为 (yīnwèi) and 所以 (suǒyǐ) Together ==
*[[Explaining results with "suoyi"]]
+
 
 +
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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
因为 + Cause, 所以 + Effect
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
This expresses that because of ''cause'', therefore there is a ''result''.
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <em>因为</em> 我 有 一个 中国 女朋友,<em>所以</em> 我 要 学 中文。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ yǒu yī gè Zhōngguó nǚpéngyou, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒ yào xué Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">Since I have a Chinese girlfriend, I need to study Chinese.</span>
 +
* <em>因为</em> 他 生病 了,<em>所以</em> 没 去 上课。<span class="pinyin"> <em>Yīnwèi</em> tā shēngbìng le, <em>suǒyǐ</em> méi qù shàngkè.</span><span class="trans">Since he was sick, he didn't go to class.</span>
 +
* <em>因为</em> 我 很 累,<em>所以</em> 要 休息。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ hěn lèi, <em>suǒyǐ</em> yào xiūxi.</span><span class="trans">I'm very tired, so I want to rest.</span>
 +
* <em>因为</em> 太 远 了,<em>所以</em> 我 不 想 去。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> tài yuǎn le, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒ bù xiǎng qù.</span><span class="trans">Since it's too far, I don't want to go.</span>
 +
* <em>因为</em> 太 忙, <em>所以</em> 我们 没有 时间 吃 中饭。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> tài máng, <em>suǒyǐ</em> wǒmen méiyǒu shíjiān chī zhōngfàn.</span><span class="trans">We were too busy, so none of us had time to eat lunch.</span>
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 +
</div>
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 +
== See also ==
 +
 
 
*[[Stating the effect before the cause]] (advanced article)
 
*[[Stating the effect before the cause]] (advanced article)
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== 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]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|44}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|272-4}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|79}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|108}}
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{{Source|现代汉语虚词例释|482}}
  
 
===Websites===
 
===Websites===
 +
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0201.html How to use 因为 and 由于]
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0201.html How to use 因为 and 由于]
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|因为|A2|因为⋯⋯ 所以⋯⋯|<em>因为</em> 饿 了,<em>所以</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASGTDUJO}}
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{{Rel char|所以}}
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{{Rel char|以}}
 
{{Similar|Stating the Effect before the Cause}}
 
{{Similar|Stating the Effect before the Cause}}
{{Similar|Explaining results with "suoyi"}}
 
{{Similar|Explaining causes with "yinwei"}} 
 
 
{{Similar|"Then…" with "name"}}     
 
{{Similar|"Then…" with "name"}}     
{{Similar|Because" with"er" Indicating Effect}}   
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{{Similar|Because" with "er" Indicating Effect}}   
 
{{Similar|"Since" with "jiran"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Since" with "jiran"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Therefore" with "yinci"}}
 
{{Similar|"Therefore" with "yinci"}}
{{Basic Grammar|因为|A2|因为… 所以…|<em>因为</em> 饿 了,<em>所以</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASGTDUJO}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "as a result" with "jieguo"}}
{{Rel char|所以}}
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{{Similar|Express an action and its effect by using "tongguo… shi"}}
{{Rel char|}}
 
 
{{Used for|Expressing result}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing result}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}

Revision as of 09:15, 27 February 2019

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

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites