Meaning of 所以
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- therefore
- as a result
- so
- the reason why
How to use 所以
所以 links a cause to its result and usually starts the second clause. It often pairs with 因为 (yīnwèi) in the pattern 因为...所以..., though either word can be dropped in speech. Example: 今天下雨，所以我不去了。(Jīntiān xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ bú qù le.) It is raining today, so I'm not going.
所 (suǒ) means place or that which, and 以 (yǐ) means by means of, so 所以 points to the thing by which something happens: the reason, and therefore the result. Think of it as pointing back to a cause and saying "that's why".
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 所以 (suǒyǐ, so) with 可以 (kěyǐ, can), since both end in 以. Another trap is putting 所以 before the cause, as English "so" sometimes allows. 所以 must introduce the result, not the reason.
所以 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
所 suǒ · actually · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
以 yǐ · to use · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 所以.
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may |
| 所有 | suǒyǒu | all; to have; to possess; to own |
| 以为 | yǐwéi | to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless refe |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; formerly |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later |
| 以上 | yǐshàng | that level or higher; that amount or more; the above-mentioned |
| 以外 | yǐwài | apart from; other than |
| 以下 | yǐxià | that level or lower; that amount or less |
| 以来 | yǐlái | since (used after a specified time or event) |
| 场所 | chǎngsuǒ | location; place |
| 所长 | suǒzhǎng | what one is good at; one's strong point |
| 以及 | yǐjí | and; as well as |
Questions about 所以
What does 所以 mean?
所以 (suǒyǐ) means "therefore; as a result" and is used as a conjunction.
How do you write 所以?
所以 is made of 2 characters: 所 (8 strokes), 以 (4 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 所以 an HSK word?
Yes. 所以 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 因为 and 所以 together in one sentence?
Yes. Unlike English, where "because...so" sounds wrong, Chinese commonly uses both: 因为太累，所以我睡了 (Yīnwèi tài lèi, suǒyǐ wǒ shuì le). Because I was too tired, I went to sleep.
What does 所以 mean when it starts a sentence in conversation?
In speech, 所以 can start a reply like English "so" to ask for a conclusion, as in 所以呢？(Suǒyǐ ne?) So what? In the pattern 之所以...是因为... it means "the reason why...is because...".