HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
因为…所以…: because… so…
Give the reason first with 因为 and the result with 所以. Either word can be left out.
Structure
- 因为 + reason，所以 + result
How it works
Chinese usually puts the reason first: 因为下雨，所以我没去 = because it rained, I didn’t go.
You can use both words, or only one of them: 因为下雨，我没去 / 下雨了，所以我没去.
When answering 为什么, start with 因为: 你为什么不去？— 因为我很忙.
Examples
-
因为今天下雨，所以我没去跑步。
Yīnwèi jīntiān xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù pǎobù.
Because it rained today, I didn’t go running.
-
因为他病了，所以没来上课。
Yīnwèi tā bìng le, suǒyǐ méi lái shàngkè.
He didn’t come to class because he was ill.
-
我很累，所以想早点儿睡觉。
Wǒ hěn lèi, suǒyǐ xiǎng zǎo diǎn ér shuìjiào.
I’m tired, so I want to go to bed early.
-
— 你为什么学汉语？— 因为我喜欢中国。
— Nǐ wèishénme xué Hànyǔ?— Yīnwèi wǒ xǐhuan Zhōngguó.
— Why are you learning Chinese? — Because I like China.
-
因为路上车很多，所以我来晚了。
Yīnwèi lùshang chē hěn duō, suǒyǐ wǒ lái wǎn le.
I’m late because there was a lot of traffic.
Words in these examples (28)
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because | HSK 2 |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 下雨 | xiàyǔ | to rain | HSK 1 |
| 所以 | suǒyǐ | so; therefore | HSK 2 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 跑步 | pǎobù | to run; to jog | HSK 2 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 病 | bìng | illness; to be ill | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 上课 | shàngkè | to have class; to start class | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 累 | lèi | tired | HSK 2 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 早 | zǎo | early; good morning | HSK 1 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | HSK 1 |
| 睡觉 | shuìjiào | to sleep; to go to bed | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 为什么 | wèishénme | why | HSK 2 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 |
| 中国 | Zhōngguó | China | HSK 1 |
| 路上 | lùshang | on the way | HSK 2 |
| 车 | chē | car; vehicle | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 晚 | wǎn | late; evening | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗所以我没去，因为下雨。
✓因为下雨，所以我没去。
Reason first, result second.
-
✗因为下雨，但是我没去。
✓因为下雨，所以我没去。
因为 pairs with 所以, not 但是.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 因为我生病了， 没去上班。
2. — 你为什么不吃？— 我不饿。
3. 外面很冷， 你多穿点儿衣服。