因…故…
because …, therefore … (literary)
Structure
因 原因 ， 故 结果
What it means
A written, classical pair meaning “because …, therefore …”: 因 introduces the cause and 故 heads the result clause.
How it is built
(Subject) + 因 + cause ， 故 + result; 因 may follow the subject: 本店因内部装修，故暂停营业三天 (this shop is closed for three days for refurbishment).
When to use it
Notices, reports and formal writing; in speech use 因为…所以…. 因…而… (1-24) packs cause and result into one clause (比赛因下雨而推迟); 因而 (1-18) opens the result clause with no 因 before it.
Watch out
Keep the pair together in one register. ✗ 本店因为装修，故暂停营业 ✓ 本店因装修，故暂停营业. 故 on its own at the start of a sentence means “therefore”.
Examples
瓷器因产自中国，故在波斯语里被称为“中国的”。
Because porcelain came from China, it was called “Chinese” in Persian.
本店因内部装修，故暂停营业三天。
This shop is closed for three days for refurbishment.
此书因印数极少，故存世不多。
Because only a handful were printed, few copies of this book survive.
Learn this in Lesson 94 · HSK 6–7: 瓷器：china 的由来 (Porcelain: why it is called china)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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