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所以
所以
suó yǐ
conj. so, therefore
Discussion of 所以
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In this post we discuss two conjunction: 所以 and 因此. Both mean “so, therefore”, but they are not entirely the same in terms of collocation.

1. 所以 can be paired with 因为 or 由于 to form such structure
因为……，所以……。 E.g. 因为这是我们的第一节课，所以我不知道你们的名字。 [phr] This is our first lesson, so I don't know your names.
由于……，所以……。E.g. 由于这是我们的第一节课，所以我不知道你们的名字。 [phr] This is our first lesson, so I don't know your names.
因此 can only be paired with 由于 and form this structure: 由于……，因此……。
E.g. 由于他工作认真，因此得到了大家的信任。 [phr] Because he works with a serious attitude, he has won everybody's trust.

2. 所以 can be used between the subject and the predicate. But 因此 cannot be used in this way.
E.g. 他所以取得这么好的成绩，是因为他平时一直都很努力。 [phr] The reason why he achieved such good grades is that he has always worked hard.
lisaC
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The conjunction 所以 is often paired with 因为 in a complex sentence to indicate cause and effect. For example:
Example 1. 因为下雨了，所以我没去跑步。 [phr] Because it rained, I did not go jogging.

It is not necessary that the two appear together in a sentence: 所以 can be used alone at the beginning of the second clause indicating the effect or result (Example 2).
Example 2. 他喜欢自由自在的生活，所以经常一个人去旅游。 [phr] He likes a life of freedom, so he often travels alone.

If we reverse the sequence of the two clauses in the sentence, we can use this structure “(之)所以…，是因为….。”(Example 3)
Example 3. 他(之)所以取得这么好的成绩，是因为他平时一直都很努力。 [phr] The reason why he achieved such good grades is that he has always worked hard.

We can use only 因为 in the second clause indicating the cause (Example 4). In this case 所以 must NOT be used anymore at the beginning of the first clause:
Example 4. 我喜欢夏天，因为我可以在大海里游泳。 [phr] I like summer because I can swim in the sea. (It is wrong to say: ＊所以我喜欢夏天，因为我可以在大海里游泳。)
lisaC
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About 从而，于是，因而，因此，所以 (and 然而):

1. 从而 (conj) indicates result or further action. 从而 is used at the beginning of the second clause of a sentence, and the subject of the second clause is the same as the first clause. 从而 is used in formal written Chinese. 从而 cannot be used behind a subject.
Example: 他及时踩刹车，从而避免了危险。 r/s [phr] He stepped on the brake in time, thus avoided the danger.

2. 于是 (conj) indicates that one event or action happens right after another event or action. It connects the cause and the effect. 于是 can be used after a subject. In this example below, we can also say “…, 她于是不哭了。”
Example: 我给她买了好吃的东西，于是她不哭了。 [phr] I bought something good to eat for her, therefore, she stopped crying.

3. 所以 (conj) indicates result. can be paired with 因为 or 由于 to form fixed structures. 所以 can be used between the subject and the predicate. But 因此 cannot be used in this way.
Examples:
- 因为……，所以……。 E.g. 因为这是我们的第一节课，所以我不知道你们的名字。 [phr] This is our first lesson, so I don't know your names.
- 由于……，所以……。E.g. 由于这是我们的第一节课，所以我不知道你们的名字。 [phr] This is our first lesson, so I don't know your names.
- 他所以取得这么好的成绩，是因为他平时一直都很努力。 [phr] The reason why he achieved such good grades is that he has always worked hard.

4. 因此 (conj) indicates the result from the reason mentioned in the previous clause. 此 in 因此means “this”, and it specifically refers back to the first clause of the sentence. 因此can be paired with 由于 and form a fixed structure. 因此 is very similar to 所以, but please check out notes under 因此 or 所以 for their differences.
由于……，因此……。

5. 因而 and 因此 are basically used in the same way.

6. 然而 (conj) means “however”. 然而 is something totally different from all the other words mentioned in this post and we do not consider 然而 as a comparable synonym to the other words.
lisaC
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所以 vs 于是:

1. "A，所以B": A is simply the reason of B.
E.g. 独角兽不存在，所以你别幻想了。 Unicorns don't exist, so stop daydreaming (about it).
In this example above, we cannot use 于是, because there is no succeeding and subsequent events involved.

2. "A，于是B": B is an action/event that succeeds A; A happens first, then B happens as a result.
In these examples below, there is always an event that happens in the first place, then 于是 connects the subsequent action/event:

学校离机场非常远，于是我只好坐出租车去。 [phr] The school was very far away from the airport, so I had to take a taxi.
他失业了，于是对生活很失望。 [phr] He lost his job, so he felt disappointed with life.
早上醒来的时候我觉得有点不舒服，于是就去了医院。 [phr] I was not feeling very well after waking up and so I went to hospital.
我有事想问他，于是给他打了电话。 [phr] I have something to ask him, so I called him.
我给她买了好吃的东西，于是她不哭了。 [phr] I bought something good to eat for her, therefore, she stopped crying.
lisaC
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What other words can I use with 所以 to express the same meaning? (suǒyǐ)
个学生
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How is 所以 commonly used in a sentence? (suǒyǐ)
个学生
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What other words or phrases can take the place of 所以? (suǒyǐ)
个学生
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when and how to use it ?
Sunchaser
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