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所以suǒ yǐtherefore; as a result; so

HSK 2word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

所以 (suǒ yǐ) means “therefore”, “so”, or “as a result”. It is a conjunction that introduces a result after a reason has been given. You can use it alone after stating a reason, or pair it with 因为 in the pattern 因为…所以… to make the cause-and-effect link explicit.

What does 所以 mean?

  1. 1.

    therefore; as a result; soconjunction

  2. 2.

    the reason whyconjunction

What do the characters in 所以 mean?

  • 所that which; relative particle
  • 以by means of; because of

How do you use 所以?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    Reason，所以 + Result

    State the reason first, then introduce the result with 所以. This form is more informal than the full 因为…所以… pattern.

  2. 2

    因为 + Cause，所以 + Effect

    Put the cause after 因为 and the effect after 所以 to make the cause-and-effect link explicit.

所以 often starts the clause that gives the result, and it can appear with or without 因为 in the reason clause.

Patterns

  • 太…了，所以…

    太远了，所以我不想去。

    Tài yuǎn le, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng qù.

    It's too far, so I don't want to go.

  • 因为…，所以…

    因为我很累，所以要休息。

    Yīnwèi wǒ hěn lèi, suǒyǐ yào xiūxi.

    Because I'm very tired, I want to rest.

What are some examples of 所以 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 2

    汉字太难了，所以我不想学。

    Hànzì tài nán le, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng xué.

    Chinese characters are too hard, so I don't want to study them.

  2. HSK 3

    因为下雨，所以我们没有去公园。

    Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒmen méiyǒu qù gōngyuán.

    Because it rained, we didn't go to the park.

  3. HSK 3

    我太忙了，所以没有时间给你打电话。

    Wǒ tài máng le, suǒyǐ méiyǒu shíjiān gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.

    I was too busy, so I didn't have time to call you.

  4. HSK 3

    因为他生病了，所以没去上课。

    Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ méi qù shàngkè.

    Because he was sick, he didn't go to class.

How is 所以 different from 因为?

所以 introduces the result. 因为 (yīn wèi) introduces the reason or cause.

Only 所以 fits here

汉字太难了，所以我不想学。

Hànzì tài nán le, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng xué.

Chinese characters are too hard, so I don't want to study them.

How is 所以 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    你为什么不来？

    Nǐ wèishénme bù lái?

    Why didn't you come?

  2. Speaker B:

    因为我很忙，所以没时间。

    Yīnwèi wǒ hěn máng, suǒyǐ méi shíjiān.

    Because I was busy, so I had no time.

  3. Speaker A:

    明天你有空吗？

    Míngtiān nǐ yǒu kòng ma?

    Are you free tomorrow?

  4. Speaker B:

    有空，所以我们可以见面。

    Yǒu kòng, suǒyǐ wǒmen kěyǐ jiànmiàn.

    I am free, so we can meet.

Can you use 所以 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我太累了，___想休息。
  2. 2.Fill in the blank: ___下雨，所以我们没出去。
  3. 3.Which word fits: 他找到工作了，___很高兴。

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.