Because in Chinese: 因为, 所以, 既然 and 由于
"Because" in Chinese is 因为 (yīnwèi) and "so" is 所以 (suǒyǐ), and unlike English, one sentence often uses both: 因为下雨了，所以我没去公园 (Yīnwèi xià yǔ le, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù gōngyuán, because it rained, I did not go to the park). For a fact you both already accept, use 既然…就, and in formal writing, 由于. The table has 11 cause and result patterns from HSK 2 to HSK 5.
| Pattern | Use | HSK | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 因为 A，所以 B | reason, then result (the everyday pair) | 2 | 因为下雨了，所以我没去公园。 Yīnwèi xià yǔ le, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù gōngyuán. Because it rained, I did not go to the park. |
| A，所以 B | so: the result, with the reason left plain | 2 | 我太累了，所以很早就睡了。 Wǒ tài lèi le, suǒyǐ hěn zǎo jiù shuì le. I was too tired, so I went to bed early. |
| B，因为 A | the reason added after the result | 2 | 我今天没去上班，因为我病了。 Wǒ jīntiān méi qù shàngbān, yīnwèi wǒ bìng le. I did not go to work today because I was ill. |
| Subject + 因为 + reason | because of, after the subject | 3 | 他因为工作忙，很少回家。 Tā yīnwèi gōngzuò máng, hěn shǎo huí jiā. He rarely goes home because he is busy with work. |
| 由于 A，B | due to (formal, written) | 3 | 由于天气不好，航班取消了。 Yóuyú tiānqì bù hǎo, hángbān qǔxiāo le. Due to bad weather, the flight was cancelled. |
| 为了 + goal | in order to: a purpose, not a cause | 3 | 为了赶上火车，我们六点就出门了。 Wèile gǎnshàng huǒchē, wǒmen liù diǎn jiù chūmén le. To catch the train, we left home at six. |
| 由于 + noun phrase | because of (formal) | 4 | 由于工作的原因，他搬到了上海。 Yóuyú gōngzuò de yuányīn, tā bāndàole Shànghǎi. He moved to Shanghai for work reasons. |
| 既然 A，就 B | since (a fact you both accept), then | 4 | 既然你不舒服，就早点儿回家吧。 Jìrán nǐ bù shūfu, jiù zǎo diǎnr huí jiā ba. Since you are not feeling well, go home early. |
| A，因此 B | therefore (written) | 5 | 他每天练习，因此进步很快。 Tā měitiān liànxí, yīncǐ jìnbù hěn kuài. He practices every day, so he is improving fast. |
| A，从而 B | thereby: a method and the result it brings | 5 | 他改变了学习方法，从而提高了成绩。 Tā gǎibiànle xuéxí fāngfǎ, cóng'ér tígāole chéngjì. He changed how he studies and so raised his grades. |
| A，加上 B，C | on top of that: two causes add up | 5 | 雨很大，加上路上堵车，我迟到了半个小时。 Yǔ hěn dà, jiāshàng lùshang dǔchē, wǒ chídàole bàn ge xiǎoshí. It was raining hard, and with the traffic on top of that, I was half an hour late. |
Reason first, result second
Chinese usually puts the reason first and the result after it, so 所以 almost always opens the second clause. 因为 can open the first clause, follow the subject (他因为工作忙，很少回家), or come second to explain something already said. The formal words follow the same order: 由于 opens the reason, 因此 and 从而 open the result. For every other connector pair, from 虽然…但是 to 如果…就, see compound sentences in Chinese.
既然 and 为了 are not "because"
既然 takes a fact the listener already knows and draws a conclusion from it, so it often ends in a suggestion: 既然你不舒服，就早点儿回家吧. 为了 gives a goal, not a cause: 为了赶上火车 is something you want to happen. The two side-by-side pages are 既然 vs 因为 and 因为 vs 为了.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "because" in Chinese?
因为 (yīnwèi). The result often opens with 所以 (suǒyǐ), "so": 因为下雨了，所以我没去公园 (because it rained, I did not go to the park). In formal writing 由于 (yóuyú) replaces 因为.
Do you need both 因为 and 所以?
No. Either half alone is correct: 我太累了，所以很早就睡了, or 我没去上班，因为我病了. Using both is normal in speech and in textbooks, which is the opposite of English, where "because ... so" in one sentence is a mistake.
Can 因为 come at the end of a sentence?
The 因为 clause can come second, after the result: 我今天没去上班，因为我病了. It then adds the reason as an explanation. 所以 does not move that way; it stays at the start of the result clause.
What is the difference between 既然 and 因为?
因为 gives a reason the listener may not know. 既然 starts from a fact you both already accept and draws a conclusion from it, usually with 就 and often a suggestion or a question: 既然你不舒服，就早点儿回家吧. 既然 does not introduce news the listener has not heard yet.
What is the difference between 因为 and 为了?
因为 looks back at a cause: 因为下雨了，我没去. 为了 looks ahead to a goal: 为了赶上火车，我们六点就出门了. If the clause is something you want to happen, use 为了.
What is the difference between 由于 and 因为?
They mean the same thing. 由于 is formal and written, and is common in news and notices: 由于天气不好，航班取消了. 由于 can also pair with 因此, which 因为 usually does not.
Which "because" words are in which HSK level?
因为 and 所以 are HSK 2. 由于 and 为了 are HSK 3. 既然…就 and formal 由于 are HSK 4. 因此, 从而 and 加上 come at HSK 5.
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