HSK 4 grammar · new HSK syllabus
于是, 因此, 由于: so, therefore, because of
于是 = so (then, what happened next); 因此 = therefore; 由于 = because of (formal).
Structure
- …，于是 + next action
- 由于 + reason，(因此) + result
How it works
于是 links an event to what someone did next as a result: 下雨了，于是我们回家了.
因此 introduces a logical result, often in writing: 他很努力，因此进步很快.
由于 is a more formal 因为 and often pairs with 因此 or 所以.
Examples
-
天气突然变冷了，于是我们回家拿衣服。
Tiānqì tūrán biàn lěng le, yúshì wǒmen huí jiā ná yīfu.
It suddenly got cold, so we went home for clothes.
-
由于下大雨，航班推迟了。
Yóuyú xià dà yǔ, hángbān tuīchí le.
Because of heavy rain, the flight was delayed.
-
他每天练习，因此进步很快。
Tā měi tiān liànxí, yīncǐ jìnbù hěn kuài.
He practises every day, so he’s improving quickly.
-
由于工作原因，他不得不搬家。
Yóuyú gōngzuò yuányīn, tā bùdébù bānjiā.
For work reasons, he had to move house.
-
我们迷路了，于是问了一个警察。
Wǒmen mílù le, yúshì wèn le yí gè jǐngchá.
We got lost, so we asked a police officer.
Words in these examples (34)
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | HSK 1 |
| 突然 | tūrán | sudden; suddenly | HSK 3 |
| 变 | biàn | to change | HSK 3 |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 于是 | yúshì | so; thereupon | HSK 4 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 回 | huí | to return; to go back | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 拿 | ná | to take; to hold; to carry | HSK 2 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | HSK 1 |
| 由于 | yóuyú | because of; due to | HSK 4 |
| 下 | xià | down; below; to go down; to get off; next | HSK 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain | HSK 1 |
| 航班 | hángbān | flight | HSK 4 |
| 推迟 | tuīchí | to postpone | HSK 4 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 每 | měi | every; each | HSK 2 |
| 天 | tiān | day; sky | HSK 1 |
| 练习 | liànxí | to practise; exercise | HSK 3 |
| 因此 | yīncǐ | therefore | HSK 4 |
| 进步 | jìnbù | progress; improvement; to improve; to progress | HSK 5 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 快 | kuài | fast; quick; soon | HSK 2 |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; job; work | HSK 1 |
| 原因 | yuányīn | reason; cause | HSK 4 |
| 不得不 | bùdébù | to have no choice but to | HSK 4 |
| 搬家 | bānjiā | to move house | HSK 3 |
| 迷路 | mílù | to lose the way; lost; labyrinth | HSK 5 |
| 问 | wèn | to ask | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 警察 | jǐngchá | police officer | HSK 4 |
Common mistakes
-
✗由于下雨了，但是我们去了。
✓虽然下雨了，但是我们去了。
由于 gives a reason; for a contrast use 虽然.
-
✗我明天于是去。
✓我明天去。
于是 links to an earlier event; it starts a clause.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他想学做菜， 每天晚上跟妈妈学。
2. 天气原因，比赛取消了。
3. 她很努力， 成绩一直很好。