Mastering the Different Ways to Say “Because” and “So” in Chinese

One of the biggest steps you can take in learning a new language is moving beyond simple sentences and being able to explain why something happened or what happened next. We want to be able to say things like “I’m late because there was traffic” or “It’s snowing, so I decided to stay home.” 

If you want to say “because” or “so” in Mandarin Chinese, we can help. If you do a simple Google search or look it up in a dictionary, you’ll probably learn that  “because” is 因为 (yīnwèi) and “so” is 所以 (suǒyǐ), but there are other ways to join two related phrases that are far more interesting. 

To introduce all these linking words in a brief and easy-to-follow way, we created a chart that explains the differences between 因为 (yīnwèi), 由于 (yóuyú), 所以(suǒyǐ), 因此 (yīncǐ), and 因而 (yīn’ér).

“Because” in Chinese

	因为	由于
Part of speech	Conjunction	Conjunction
Meaning	Gives the reason for something.	Gives the reason for something.
Usage	1. Used with 所以, but not with 因此 or 因而. 2. Normally comes before the first clause to explain the reason, but can also be used with 是 因为 to reveal the reason in the next clause. 3. Commonly used in spoken language.	1. Used with 所以, 因此, or 因而. 2. 由于 should only be used before the first clause and not in the second clause. 3. Commonly used in written language.
Example	因为今天下雨，所以我没出去跑步。 (Yīnwèi jīntiān xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi chūqu pǎobù.)Because it’s raining today, I haven’t gone out to run.   他开会迟到了是因为路上堵车了。(Tā kāihuì chídào le shì yīnwèi lùshɑnɡ dǔchē le.)He was late for the meeting because there was a traffic jam. 因为下雨，我们没有去公园。(Yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒ men méiyǒu qù gōngyuán.)Because it rained, we didn’t go to the park. 他生气了，是因为没有按时完成工作。(Tā shēngqì le, shì yīnwèi méiyǒu ànshí wánchéng gōngzuò.)He got angry because he didn’t finish the work on time.	由于他总是帮助别人，所以/因此/因而受到了大家的尊敬。 (Yóuyú tā zǒnɡshì bānɡzhù biérén, suǒyǐ/yīncǐ/yīn’ér shòudào le dàjiā de zūnjìnɡ.)Because he helps others, he is respected by everyone. 由于天气恶劣，飞机被迫取消。(Yóuyú tiānqì èliè, fēijī bèipò qǔxiāo.)Due to bad weather, the flight was forced to be canceled. 由于他昨天加班很晚，今天早上没有来公司。(Yóuyú tā zuótiān jiābān hěn wǎn, jīntiān zǎoshàng méiyǒu lái gōngsī.) Because he worked overtime yesterday, he didn’t come to the office this morning.

“So” in Chinese

	所以	因此	因而
Part of speech	Conjunction	Conjunction	Conjunction
Meaning	Provides the result of something.	Connects a reason to a result and emphasizes the result.	Implies the result of the reason provided in the first phrase. It emphasizes that the result is speculation.
Usage	1. We generally use 所以 to connect sentences. 2. Usually, we don’t separate it with a comma. 3. We often use it in the structure “因为/由于……所以……,” but we can also use it alone.	1. We generally use 因此 to connect sentences or paragraphs. 2. We can choose to separate it with a comma or not. 3. Can be used with 由于 (which means “due to”).	1. We use 因而 to connect sentences, paragraphs, or phrases. 2.  We can choose to separate it with a comma or not. 3. Can be used with由于 (which means “due to”).
Example	外面在下雨，所以我们不去逛街了。 (Wàimian zài xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒmen bú qù ɡuànɡjiē le.)It’s raining outside, so we won’t go shopping. 因为他生病了，所以今天不能来上课。(Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ jīntiān bùnéng lái shàngkè.)Because he is sick, he can’t come to class today. 我没带伞，所以被淋湿了。(Wǒ méi dài sǎn, suǒyǐ bèi línshī le.)I didn’t bring an umbrella, so I got wet.	（由于）他的小说非常精彩，因此得到了广泛好评。 (yóuyú) tā de xiǎoshuō fēichánɡ jīnɡcǎi, yīncǐ dédào le ɡuǎnɡfàn hǎo pínɡ.)His novel is wonderful, so it received wide praise. 他没有准备充分，因此考试成绩不理想。(Tā méiyǒu zhǔnbèi chōngfèn, yīncǐ kǎoshì chéngji bù lǐxiǎng.)He didn’t prepare well, so his exam results were not ideal. 天气很冷，因此我们决定待在家里。(Tiānqì hěn lěng, yīncǐ wǒmen juédìng dài zài jiā lǐ.)The weather is very cold, therefore we decided to stay at home.	她说今天来，可是现在快凌晨了，因而，她今天不可能来了。 (Tā shuō jīntiān lái, kěshì xiànzài kuài línɡchén le, yīn’ér, tā jīntiān bù kěnénɡ lái le.)She said she would come today, but now it is nearly midnight, so it is no longer possible for her to come today. 公司遇到了财务问题，因而不得不裁员。(Gōngsī yùdào le cáiwù wèntí, yīnér bùdébù cáiyuán.) The company encountered financial issues, and as a result,  had to lay off employees. 由于他没能按时完成项目，因而失去了这次晋升机会。(Yóuyú tā méi néng ànshí wánchéng xiàngmù, yīnér shīqù le zhècì jìnshēng jīhuì.)Because he failed to complete the project on time, he lost his promotion opportunity.

Integrating these different conjunctions into your Chinese practice and conversations will help you improve your proficiency by adding details and linking them together in a logical way. This chart will help you do so with an even broader vocabulary. Try using 由于 (yóuyú) correctly in front of a native Chinese speaker; they’ll be flabbergasted!

Exercises

Try out the quiz below to see if you know which term to use in which situation. Don’t get discouraged if it turns out to be a real challenge. If you keep pushing yourself, you’ll see a massive improvement in your Chinese fluency over time.

Complete the sentence with the correct word.

1. 他迟到了， ________他错过了公交车。
(Tā chídào le, ________ tā cuòguò le gōngjiāochē.)
He was late because he missed the bus.

A) 因而
B) 所以
C) 因为

2. 我很高兴， ________我通过了考试。
(Wǒ hěn gāoxìng, ________ wǒ tōngguò le kǎoshì.)
I am very happy because I passed the exam.

A）因此
B）因而
C）因为
D）由于

3. 她不去上班， ________她生病了。
(Tā bù qù shàngbān, ________ tā shēngbìng le.)
She is not going to work because she is sick.

A）因为
B）因此
C）所以

4. __我们没有准备充分，结果失败了。
(__ wǒmen méiyǒu zhǔnbèi chōngfèn, jiéguǒ shībài le.)
Due to our lack of preparation, we failed in the end.

A）由此
B）由于
C）所以

5. __天气不好，比赛被取消了。
(__ tiānqì bù hǎo, bǐsài bèi qǔxiāo le.)
Due to the bad weather, the game was canceled.

A）由于
B）因此
C）所以

6. __我有很多事情要做，我今天不能去参加聚会。
(__ wǒ yǒu hěn duō shìqíng yào zuò, wǒ jīntiān bù néng qù cānjiā jùhuì.)
Because I have many things to do, I can’t go to the party today.

A）由于
B）之所以
C）所以

7. 他很忙， ________ 他没来参加聚会。
(Tā hěn máng, ________ tā méi lái cān jiā jù huì.)
He is busy, so he didn’t come to the party.

A）由于
B）之所以
C）所以

8. 我们缺乏足够的资金， ________ 计划暂时停止了。
(Wǒ men quē fá zú gòu de zī jīn, ________ jì huà zàn shí tíng zhǐ le.)
We lack sufficient funds, therefore, the plan was temporarily halted.

A）因此
B）之所以
C）因为

9. 他没有按时完成任务， ________ 被批评了。
(Tā méi yǒu àn shí wán chéng rèn wu, ________ bèi pī píng le.)
He did not finish the task on time, and as a result, he was criticized.

A）由于
B）因而
C）因为

10. Which sentence is correct?

A) 他没做作业，因而老师很生气。
B) 他做作业因而很高兴。
C) 他做作业因而很高兴了。

11. Which sentence is correct?

A) 因此太累了，已经睡觉。
B) 他考试失败了，因此他感到非常难过。
C) 他考试失败了，之所以他感到非常难过。

12. Which sentence is correct?

A) 他工作太努力，由于身体出了问题。
B) 他工作太努力，所以身体出了问题。
C) 他工作太努力，因为身体出了问题。

Key：

1. C
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. A
6. A
7. C
8. A
9. B
10.  A
11. B
12. B