1. 因果连词 Cause & Result Conjunctions | Explaining Why Something Happened
Learning focus: Learn cause and result conjunctions for explaining why something happened: 因为, 所以, 结果, 由于, 因此, 从而.
1. Vocabulary List
Cause and result conjunctions for saying “because”, “so”, “as a result”, “therefore”, and “thereby”.
■ 初级 Beginner = core words for this topic
■ 进阶 Advanced = higher-level words
Beginner
因为
because
Beginner
所以
so
therefore
therefore
Beginner
结果
as a result
in the end
in the end
Advanced
由于
due to
owing to, formal
owing to, formal
Advanced
因此
therefore
formal written
formal written
Advanced
从而
thereby
and thus
and thus
2. Key Distinctions
The main differences between everyday and formal cause-result structures.
因为…所以…
yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...
yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...
因为 + reason, 所以 + result
The most common cause-result pattern in daily conversation.
因为他生病了，所以没来上班。
Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ méi lái shàngbān.
Because he was sick, he did not come to work.
Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ méi lái shàngbān.
Because he was sick, he did not come to work.
由于…因此…
yóuyú... yīncǐ...
yóuyú... yīncǐ...
formal cause + formal result
Formal written pair, common in reports, announcements, and news.
由于天气原因，因此比赛推迟。
Yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn, yīncǐ bǐsài tuīchí.
Due to weather reasons, the match was postponed.
Yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn, yīncǐ bǐsài tuīchí.
Due to weather reasons, the match was postponed.
结果
jiéguǒ
jiéguǒ
actual outcome
Introduces the actual result, often in storytelling. It can stand alone.
他没复习，结果考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le.
He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.
Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le.
He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.
从而
cóng'ér
cóng'ér
action → consequence
Formal written connector showing that one action leads to a logical result.
不断练习，从而提高了水平。
Búduàn liànxí, cóng'ér tígāo le shuǐpíng.
Through continuous practice, one thereby improved one’s level.
Búduàn liànxí, cóng'ér tígāo le shuǐpíng.
Through continuous practice, one thereby improved one’s level.
因为
yīnwèi
yīnwèi
can stand alone
因为 can be used without 所以. 所以 usually needs previous context.
因为太贵了，我没买。
Yīnwèi tài guì le, wǒ méi mǎi.
Because it was too expensive, I did not buy it.
Yīnwèi tài guì le, wǒ méi mǎi.
Because it was too expensive, I did not buy it.
因而
yīn'ér
yīn'ér
near-synonym of 因此
Slightly more literary. Useful for recognition in formal reading.
努力学习，因而取得了好成绩。
Nǔlì xuéxí, yīn'ér qǔdé le hǎo chéngjì.
He studied hard and therefore achieved good results.
Nǔlì xuéxí, yīn'ér qǔdé le hǎo chéngjì.
He studied hard and therefore achieved good results.
3. Dialogue One: Why Are You Late?
Focus: 因为 / 所以
People in this dialogue
老板 lǎobǎn = boss / manager ·
A = employee
老板
你怎么迟到了？
A
因为地铁出了问题，所以晚了二十分钟。
老板
昨天你也迟到了。
A
因为昨天我身体不好，所以走得慢。
老板
这两天问题真多。
A
对不起，因为最近事情比较多，以后我会注意的。
你怎么迟到了？
Why are you late?
Word-by-word
你 = you ·
怎么 = how / why ·
迟到了 = became late / are late
因为地铁出了问题，所以晚了二十分钟。
Because there was a problem with the subway, I was twenty minutes late.
Word-by-word
因为 = because ·
地铁 = subway ·
出了问题 = had a problem ·
所以 = so ·
晚了二十分钟 = was twenty minutes late
因为昨天我身体不好，所以走得慢。
Because I was not feeling well yesterday, I walked slowly.
Word-by-word
因为 = because ·
昨天 = yesterday ·
我身体不好 = I was not feeling well ·
所以 = so ·
走得慢 = walk slowly
对不起，因为最近事情比较多，以后我会注意的。
Sorry, because there have been many things recently. I will pay attention in the future.
Word-by-word
对不起 = sorry ·
因为 = because ·
最近 = recently ·
事情比较多 = there are quite many things ·
以后我会注意的 = I will pay attention in the future
4. Dialogue Two: A Change of Plans
Focus: 由于 / 因此 / 结果
A
这次活动为什么取消了？
B
由于报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。
A
那已经报名的人怎么办？
B
已经通知他们了，结果大家都表示理解。
A
由于临时取消，会不会影响下次活动？
B
不会，我们会重新安排，结果应该比这次更好。
这次活动为什么取消了？
Why was this event cancelled?
Word-by-word
这次活动 = this event ·
为什么 = why ·
取消了 = was cancelled
由于报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。
Due to insufficient registration numbers, the company decided to cancel it.
Word-by-word
由于 = due to ·
报名人数 = number of registered participants ·
不够 = not enough ·
因此 = therefore ·
公司决定取消 = the company decided to cancel
已经通知他们了，结果大家都表示理解。
They have already been notified, and as a result, everyone expressed understanding.
Word-by-word
已经 = already ·
通知他们了 = notified them ·
结果 = as a result ·
大家都 = everyone all ·
表示理解 = expressed understanding
由于临时取消，会不会影响下次活动？
Due to the last-minute cancellation, will it affect the next event?
Word-by-word
由于 = due to ·
临时取消 = last-minute cancellation ·
会不会 = will or not ·
影响 = affect ·
下次活动 = next event
不会，我们会重新安排，结果应该比这次更好。
No. We will rearrange it, and the result should be better than this time.
Word-by-word
不会 = no / it will not ·
重新安排 = rearrange ·
结果 = result ·
应该 = should ·
比这次更好 = better than this time
5. Learner Notes
These rules help students explain reasons and results more naturally.
💡 因为 vs 由于 — register difference
Both mean “because / due to”, but they belong to different registers.
因为 is neutral and works in any context — spoken or written.
因为下雨，我没出门。（yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒ méi chūmén）= Because it rained, I did not go out.
由于 is formal and more common in written Chinese, news, and official announcements.
由于技术原因，服务暂停。（yóuyú jìshù yuányīn, fúwù zàntíng）= Due to technical reasons, the service is suspended.
In everyday conversation, choose 因为.
因为 is neutral and works in any context — spoken or written.
因为下雨，我没出门。（yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒ méi chūmén）= Because it rained, I did not go out.
由于 is formal and more common in written Chinese, news, and official announcements.
由于技术原因，服务暂停。（yóuyú jìshù yuányīn, fúwù zàntíng）= Due to technical reasons, the service is suspended.
In everyday conversation, choose 因为.
❗ 所以 vs 因此 — spoken vs written
所以 is the everyday word for “so / therefore” and is very common in speech.
我累了，所以想休息。（wǒ lèi le, suǒyǐ xiǎng xiūxi）= I’m tired, so I want to rest.
因此 is its formal written counterpart.
项目进展顺利，因此提前完成。（xiàngmù jìnzhǎn shùnlì, yīncǐ tíqián wánchéng）= The project progressed smoothly and was therefore completed ahead of schedule.
In formal writing, 因此 pairs naturally with 由于; in conversation, 所以 pairs with 因为.
我累了，所以想休息。（wǒ lèi le, suǒyǐ xiǎng xiūxi）= I’m tired, so I want to rest.
因此 is its formal written counterpart.
项目进展顺利，因此提前完成。（xiàngmù jìnzhǎn shùnlì, yīncǐ tíqián wánchéng）= The project progressed smoothly and was therefore completed ahead of schedule.
In formal writing, 因此 pairs naturally with 由于; in conversation, 所以 pairs with 因为.
📝 结果 — the narrative “as a result”
结果 does not connect two clauses the same way 所以 does.
It introduces the actual outcome of a situation, often with a slightly unexpected or ironic tone.
他以为很简单，结果花了三个小时。（tā yǐwéi hěn jiǎndān, jiéguǒ huā le sān ge xiǎoshí）= He thought it would be easy, but it ended up taking three hours.
It can start a sentence on its own and is very natural in storytelling.
他以为很简单，结果花了三个小时。（tā yǐwéi hěn jiǎndān, jiéguǒ huā le sān ge xiǎoshí）= He thought it would be easy, but it ended up taking three hours.
It can start a sentence on its own and is very natural in storytelling.
6. Practice
Choose the right cause-result conjunction and try to explain reasons naturally.
Practice 1: Choose the correct word
Choose the best cause-result word to fill in each blank. Some questions may have more than one possible answer.
Word Bank
因为 yīnwèi = because ·
所以 suǒyǐ = so / therefore ·
结果 jiéguǒ = as a result ·
由于 yóuyú = due to ·
因此 yīncǐ = therefore ·
从而 cóng'ér = thereby
Questions
1. ___ 地铁出了问题，所以我晚了二十分钟。
___ dìtiě chū le wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ wǎn le èrshí fēnzhōng.
2. 因为昨天我身体不好，___ 走得慢。
Yīnwèi zuótiān wǒ shēntǐ bù hǎo, ___ zǒu de màn.
3. 他没复习，___ 考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, ___ kǎozá le.
4. ___ 报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。
___ bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo.
5. 不断练习，___ 提高了水平。
Búduàn liànxí, ___ tígāo le shuǐpíng.
___ dìtiě chū le wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ wǎn le èrshí fēnzhōng.
2. 因为昨天我身体不好，___ 走得慢。
Yīnwèi zuótiān wǒ shēntǐ bù hǎo, ___ zǒu de màn.
3. 他没复习，___ 考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, ___ kǎozá le.
4. ___ 报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。
___ bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo.
5. 不断练习，___ 提高了水平。
Búduàn liànxí, ___ tígāo le shuǐpíng.
Show Answers
Answers
1. 因为 / 由于 地铁出了问题，所以我晚了二十分钟。
Yīnwèi / yóuyú dìtiě chū le wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ wǎn le èrshí fēnzhōng.
Because / Due to the subway problem, I was twenty minutes late.
Best choice: 因为 — because the second clause uses 所以, which is the most natural spoken pair.
2. 因为昨天我身体不好，所以 / 因此 走得慢。
Yīnwèi zuótiān wǒ shēntǐ bù hǎo, suǒyǐ / yīncǐ zǒu de màn.
Because I was not feeling well yesterday, I walked slowly.
Best choice: 所以 — because 因为…所以… is the most natural everyday pattern.
3. 他没复习，结果考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le.
He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.
Best choice: 结果 — this sentence focuses on the actual outcome in a storytelling style.
4. 由于 / 因为 报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。
Yóuyú / yīnwèi bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo.
Due to / Because of insufficient registration numbers, the company decided to cancel it.
Best choice: 由于 — because it pairs naturally with 因此 in formal writing.
5. 不断练习，从而提高了水平。
Búduàn liànxí, cóng'ér tígāo le shuǐpíng.
Through continuous practice, one thereby improved one’s level.
Best choice: 从而 — it shows that the first action logically leads to the result.
Yīnwèi / yóuyú dìtiě chū le wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ wǎn le èrshí fēnzhōng.
Because / Due to the subway problem, I was twenty minutes late.
Best choice: 因为 — because the second clause uses 所以, which is the most natural spoken pair.
2. 因为昨天我身体不好，所以 / 因此 走得慢。
Yīnwèi zuótiān wǒ shēntǐ bù hǎo, suǒyǐ / yīncǐ zǒu de màn.
Because I was not feeling well yesterday, I walked slowly.
Best choice: 所以 — because 因为…所以… is the most natural everyday pattern.
3. 他没复习，结果考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le.
He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.
Best choice: 结果 — this sentence focuses on the actual outcome in a storytelling style.
4. 由于 / 因为 报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。
Yóuyú / yīnwèi bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo.
Due to / Because of insufficient registration numbers, the company decided to cancel it.
Best choice: 由于 — because it pairs naturally with 因此 in formal writing.
5. 不断练习，从而提高了水平。
Búduàn liànxí, cóng'ér tígāo le shuǐpíng.
Through continuous practice, one thereby improved one’s level.
Best choice: 从而 — it shows that the first action logically leads to the result.
Practice 2: Answer the question
Learn the patterns and try to answer.
Questions
你为什么迟到了？
Nǐ wèishénme chídào le? — Why were you late?
这次活动为什么取消了？
Zhè cì huódòng wèishénme qǔxiāo le? — Why was this event cancelled?
他没复习，最后怎么样了？
Tā méi fùxí, zuìhòu zěnmeyàng le? — He did not review. What happened in the end?
怎样才能提高中文水平？
Zěnyàng cái néng tígāo Zhōngwén shuǐpíng? — How can someone improve their Chinese level?
Nǐ wèishénme chídào le? — Why were you late?
这次活动为什么取消了？
Zhè cì huódòng wèishénme qǔxiāo le? — Why was this event cancelled?
他没复习，最后怎么样了？
Tā méi fùxí, zuìhòu zěnmeyàng le? — He did not review. What happened in the end?
怎样才能提高中文水平？
Zěnyàng cái néng tígāo Zhōngwén shuǐpíng? — How can someone improve their Chinese level?
Show Possible Answers
Possible Answers
你为什么迟到了？
→ 因为地铁出了问题，所以我迟到了。（Yīnwèi dìtiě chū le wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ chídào le. — Because there was a problem with the subway, I was late.）
→ 因为身体不好，所以走得慢。（Yīnwèi shēntǐ bù hǎo, suǒyǐ zǒu de màn. — Because I was not feeling well, I walked slowly.）
这次活动为什么取消了？
→ 由于报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。（Yóuyú bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo. — Due to insufficient registration numbers, the company decided to cancel it.）
→ 因为报名的人太少，所以取消了。（Yīnwèi bàomíng de rén tài shǎo, suǒyǐ qǔxiāo le. — Because too few people registered, it was cancelled.）
他没复习，最后怎么样了？
→ 他没复习，结果考砸了。（Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le. — He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.）
→ 结果成绩很差。（Jiéguǒ chéngjì hěn chà. — As a result, his grade was poor.）
怎样才能提高中文水平？
→ 要不断练习，从而提高水平。（Yào búduàn liànxí, cóng'ér tígāo shuǐpíng. — One needs to keep practicing, thereby improving one’s level.）
→ 因为语言需要积累，所以要经常练习。（Yīnwèi yǔyán xūyào jīlěi, suǒyǐ yào jīngcháng liànxí. — Because language requires accumulation, you need to practice often.）
→ 因为地铁出了问题，所以我迟到了。（Yīnwèi dìtiě chū le wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ chídào le. — Because there was a problem with the subway, I was late.）
→ 因为身体不好，所以走得慢。（Yīnwèi shēntǐ bù hǎo, suǒyǐ zǒu de màn. — Because I was not feeling well, I walked slowly.）
这次活动为什么取消了？
→ 由于报名人数不够，因此公司决定取消。（Yóuyú bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo. — Due to insufficient registration numbers, the company decided to cancel it.）
→ 因为报名的人太少，所以取消了。（Yīnwèi bàomíng de rén tài shǎo, suǒyǐ qǔxiāo le. — Because too few people registered, it was cancelled.）
他没复习，最后怎么样了？
→ 他没复习，结果考砸了。（Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le. — He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.）
→ 结果成绩很差。（Jiéguǒ chéngjì hěn chà. — As a result, his grade was poor.）
怎样才能提高中文水平？
→ 要不断练习，从而提高水平。（Yào búduàn liànxí, cóng'ér tígāo shuǐpíng. — One needs to keep practicing, thereby improving one’s level.）
→ 因为语言需要积累，所以要经常练习。（Yīnwèi yǔyán xūyào jīlěi, suǒyǐ yào jīngcháng liànxí. — Because language requires accumulation, you need to practice often.）
Practice 3: Say it yourself
Say three simple cause-result sentences using today’s conjunctions.
Speaking Prompt
Use these sentence starters:
1. 因为……所以……
Yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...
Because... so...
2. ……结果……
... jiéguǒ...
... as a result...
3. 由于……因此……
Yóuyú... yīncǐ...
Due to... therefore...
1. 因为……所以……
Yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...
Because... so...
2. ……结果……
... jiéguǒ...
... as a result...
3. 由于……因此……
Yóuyú... yīncǐ...
Due to... therefore...
Show Example Answer
Example Answer
因为我今天很忙，所以没时间做饭。
Yīnwèi wǒ jīntiān hěn máng, suǒyǐ méi shíjiān zuò fàn.
Because I am very busy today, I don’t have time to cook.
他没复习，结果考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le.
He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.
由于报名人数不够，因此活动取消了。
Yóuyú bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ huódòng qǔxiāo le.
Due to insufficient registration numbers, the event was cancelled.
Yīnwèi wǒ jīntiān hěn máng, suǒyǐ méi shíjiān zuò fàn.
Because I am very busy today, I don’t have time to cook.
他没复习，结果考砸了。
Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎozá le.
He did not review, and as a result, he failed badly.
由于报名人数不够，因此活动取消了。
Yóuyú bàomíng rénshù bú gòu, yīncǐ huódòng qǔxiāo le.
Due to insufficient registration numbers, the event was cancelled.