Tomyo
ruen

How to state the effect before the cause with 之所以 (zhīsuǒyǐ)

之所以 (zhīsuǒyǐ)⋯⋯，是因为 (shì yīnwèi) / 是为了 (shì wèile) / 是想 (shì xiǎng)⋯⋯

之所以 (zhī suǒ yǐ) — stating effect before cause

HSK 5Cause/Effect Statements

Rule structure

Normally cause precedes effect, but Chinese can also state the effect first, followed by 是因为 (shì yīnwèi) to emphasize the cause. This structure highlights the reason after presenting the outcome.

Examples

他之所以没来，是因为生病了。

Tā zhīsuǒyǐ méi lái, shì yīnwèi shēngbìng le.

The reason he didn't come is that he was sick.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

之

zhī

(literary) possessive particle; him, her, it

所以

suǒ yǐ

Therefore

是

shì

To be, yes

因为

yīnwèi

Because, since

为了

wèile

In order to

想

xiǎng

To want, to think, to miss

他

tā

He

来

lái

To come

生病

shēng bìng

To get sick

了

le

Particle (completed action or change of state)

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “stating effect before cause” in Chinese with 之所以?

Use the structure: 之所以 (zhīsuǒyǐ)⋯⋯，是因为 (shì yīnwèi) / 是为了 (shì wèile) / 是想 (shì xiǎng)⋯⋯. For example: 他之所以没来，是因为生病了。 — “The reason he didn't come is that he was sick”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

他之所以没来，是因为生病了。 — “The reason he didn't come is that he was sick”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

Tomyo

Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews

Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.

Download the app

More HSK 5 grammar rules

了 — completed action with complement

Verb + Complement + 了 (le) + (Obj.)

坏了 — extremely, awfully

Verb / Adj. + 坏了 (huàile)

万一 — what if

万一 (wànyī) + (Undesirable) Condition + 怎么办 (zěnme bàn)？

就是 — even if…

就是 (jiùshì)⋯⋯，也 (yě)⋯⋯

还…呢 — still in progress

Subj. + 还 (hái) + Predicate + 呢 (ne)

有关的 — related to…

跟 (gēn) / 和 (hé) / 与 (yǔ) + Noun + 有关的 (yǒuguān de) + Noun

得很 — very, extremely

Adj. + 得很 (de hěn)

要不 — how about…?

要不 (yàobù) + Suggestion / Option