因为……，所以……
because…, so…
Structure
因为 原因 ，所以 结果
What it means
因为 gives the reason and 所以 gives the result: “because…, so…”. 因为他病了，所以今天没来 “He’s ill, so he didn’t come today.”
How it is built
因为 + reason，所以 + result: 因为下雨，所以我们没出去 (It was raining, so we didn’t go out). You may drop either word.
When to use it
English uses “because” or “so”, not both; Chinese happily uses both in one sentence. If the reason comes second, use 因为 alone: 我没吃午饭，因为太忙了.
Watch out
Using both words is fine in Chinese. But with the reason second, don’t add 所以. ✗ 所以我没吃午饭，因为太忙了。 ✓ 我没吃午饭，因为太忙了。
Examples
因为他病了，所以今天没来。
He’s ill, so he didn’t come today.
因为下雨，所以我们没出去。
It was raining, so we didn’t go out.
我没吃午饭，因为太忙了。
I didn’t have lunch because I was too busy.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 9: 看中医 (Traditional medicine)
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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