所以
Definitions
- 1. therefore
- 2. as a result
- 3. so
- 4. the reason why
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Word relationships
Antonyms
1 itemRelated words
1 itemSynonyms
2 itemsUsage notes
Collocations
“所以”常与“因为”或“由于”配对使用：因为……所以……；由于……所以……。
Common mistakes
“所以”不能和“原因”搭配，比如不能说“原因……所以……”；只能说“因为……所以……”或者“（之）所以……是因为……”。
Grammar
Guides that feature 所以
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Start the second clause with 可是, or the shorter, more casual 可, when what follows goes against what you just said.
因而 introduces a result in written Chinese, like 所以 but more formal, and it can come after the subject of the result clause.
Learn to read long Chinese sentences that combine two relations, such as cause inside contrast, by finding the outer layer first.
At the start of a reply, 那 means “then, in that case”; 但 is a shorter 但是 for “but”. Together with 虽然, 因为, 所以 and 还是, they join clauses.
Use 因为 with a short reason, like 因为这件事 or 因为生病, before the verb to say what caused something.
Build clear cause-and-effect sentences for explanations and excuses.
Example Sentences
5 shown我感冒了， 所以 要忌口，不吃辣的。
他生病了， 所以 今天没来上课。
今天我值班， 所以 不能早回家。
他很少出门， 所以 有点孤陋寡闻。
他欠缺经验， 所以 工作很吃力。
AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.
Words Containing 所以
(after a noun N and before a predicate P) the reason why N P
to not know the reason
to get carried away
see 忘乎所以[wàng hū suǒ yǐ]
the reason why
to know that it is so but not why it is so (idiom)