Causal Sentences: 因为…所以
A causal sentence states a reason and then its result, with 因为 (yīnwèi, because) opening the reason and 所以 (suǒyǐ, so) opening the result. Unlike English, Chinese normally keeps both words in one sentence.
Either half can be dropped if context is clear:
- 因为下雨，所以我们没有去。(full form)
- 我们没有去，因为下雨。(因为-clause after the result, no 所以 needed)
But when BOTH appear together, 因为 must come first and 所以 must come before the result — never reversed.
❌ 所以下雨，因为我们没有去。(reversed order — wrong)
✅ 因为下雨，所以我们没有去。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 因为今天很冷，所以我穿了很多衣服。 | Yīn wèi jīn tiān hěn lěng, suǒ yǐ wǒ chuān le hěn duō yī fu. | Because today is very cold, I wore a lot of clothes. | Minimal 因为...所以 frame with a simple reason and result. |
| 因为他没有钱，所以不能买那本书。 | Yīn wèi tā méi yǒu qián, suǒ yǐ bù néng mǎi nà běn shū. | Because he doesn't have money, he can't buy that book. | Adds the modal 不能 in the result clause. |
| 我今天很累，因为我昨天晚上没睡好。 | Wǒ jīn tiān hěn lèi, yīn wèi wǒ zuó tiān wǎn shang méi shuì hǎo. | I'm very tired today, because I didn't sleep well last night. | Reordered form — result first, 因为-clause after, no 所以 needed. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
因为…所以 (yīn wèi…suǒ yǐ)
Links a cause and its result in one sentence.
Structure: 因为 + cause, 所以 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 因为路上堵车，所以我来晚了。 | Yīn wèi lù shàng dǔ chē, suǒ yǐ wǒ lái wǎn le. | Because of the traffic jam, I arrived late. |
| 因为明天有考试，所以我今晚要复习。 | Yīn wèi míng tiān yǒu kǎo shì, suǒ yǐ wǒ jīn wǎn yào fù xí. | Because I have an exam tomorrow, I have to review tonight. |
| 因为他生病了，所以没来上课。 | Yīn wèi tā shēng bìng le, suǒ yǐ méi lái shàng kè. | Because he was ill, he did not come to class. |
Not: 所以我感冒了，因为我不去上课。 因为 gives the reason and 所以 gives the result; here they are reversed.
因为 (yīn wèi)
Introduces the reason, alone or as the first half of the pair.
Structure: 因为 + reason
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我喜欢夏天，因为可以游泳。 | Wǒ xǐ huan xià tiān, yīn wèi kě yǐ yóu yǒng. | I like summer because I can swim. |
| 因为你的帮助，我很快找到了工作。 | Yīn wèi nǐ de bāng zhù, wǒ hěn kuài zhǎo dào le gōng zuò. | Thanks to your help, I found a job quickly. |
| 我不去，因为我没有时间。 | Wǒ bú qù, yīn wèi wǒ méi yǒu shí jiān. | I am not going because I have no time. |
Not: 所以我很忙。 In answer to 为什么, begin with 因为, not 所以.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, conjunctions (连接分句或者句子); level 2, prepositions (引出原因).
因为 is also explained in: Prepositions of Cause & Purpose: 由于, 因为, 为了 (HSK 3) · 由于/因为 (formal): due to (HSK 4).
所以 (suǒ yǐ)
Introduces the result, alone or as the second half of the pair.
Structure: reason, 所以 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我很累，所以早点儿睡了。 | Wǒ hěn lèi, suǒ yǐ zǎo diǎn shuì le. | I was tired, so I went to bed early. |
| 他每天运动，所以身体很好。 | Tā měi tiān yùn dòng, suǒ yǐ shēn tǐ hěn hǎo. | He exercises every day, so he is healthy. |
| 今天下雨，所以我没去公园。 | Jīn tiān xià yǔ, suǒ yǐ wǒ méi qù gōng yuán. | It rained today, so I did not go to the park. |
Not: 所以我很累，因为我早睡了。 所以 introduces the result and 因为 the reason; the order is reversed here.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, conjunctions (连接分句或者句子).
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Causal Sentences among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Causal Sentences
What does 因果复句 (Causal Sentences) mean in Chinese?
A causal sentence states a reason and then its result, with 因为 (yīnwèi, because) opening the reason and 所以 (suǒyǐ, so) opening the result. Unlike English, Chinese normally keeps both words in one sentence. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 因果复句 (Causal Sentences) in a sentence?
因为今天很冷，所以我穿了很多衣服。 — Yīn wèi jīn tiān hěn lěng, suǒ yǐ wǒ chuān le hěn duō yī fu. — Because today is very cold, I wore a lot of clothes. Minimal 因为...所以 frame with a simple reason and result.
What do you need to know before 因果复句 (Causal Sentences)?
Conjunctions (HSK 2), Conjunctions (HSK 1). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 因果复句 (Causal Sentences) lead to?
Prepositions of Cause & Purpose (HSK 3). Each of them names 因果复句 (Causal Sentences) among its own prerequisites.
Can I use only 所以 or only 因为?
Yes. In speech one of them is enough, as in 路上堵车，所以我来晚了。 Using both is more complete and common in writing.
Can I pair 因为 with 但是?
No. 因为 pairs with 所以. 但是 starts a contrast, and putting it after 因为 breaks the logic of the sentence.
Causal Sentences is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level