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Level Everyday Chinese · HSK 2

Because, Although, But: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是 and the Four Buts

Chinese likes to mark both halves of a complex sentence. Where English says "because it rained, we stayed in", Chinese says "because it rained, so we stayed in": 因为下雨，所以我们没出去. To English ears that's doubled up; in Chinese it's normal and clear.

Either half can usually be left out in speech, but you should learn the pairs together.

因为…所以…

因为 (yīnwèi) introduces the reason, 所以 (suǒyǐ) the result. The reason normally comes first. To ask, use 为什么 (why); the answer starts with 因为.

  • 因为下雨，所以我们没出去。

    Yīnwèi xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒmen méi chūqu.

    Because it was raining, we didn't go out.

  • 我今天很累，所以想早点儿睡。

    Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi, suǒyǐ xiǎng zǎo diǎnr shuì.

    I'm tired today, so I want to go to bed early.

  • 你为什么不来？——因为我病了。

    Nǐ wèishénme bù lái? — Yīnwèi wǒ bìng le.

    Why aren't you coming? — Because I'm ill.

虽然…但是…

虽然 (suīrán, although) and 但是 (dànshì, but) go together, unlike in English, where you'd never say "although ..., but ...". 虽然 can go before or after the subject; 但是 starts the second clause. Add 还是 or 也 for "still".

  • 虽然中文很难，但是很有意思。

    Suīrán Zhōngwén hěn nán, dànshì hěn yǒu yìsi.

    Chinese is hard, but it's very interesting.

  • 他虽然很忙，但是每天都运动。

    Tā suīrán hěn máng, dànshì měi tiān dōu yùndòng.

    Although he's busy, he exercises every day.

The four buts

All four open the second clause. They differ in strength and register.

WordFeelExample
但是 dànshìneutral, all-purpose很好，但是太贵了。
可是 kěshìspoken, a bit more emotional我想去，可是没时间。
不过 búguòsoft, "mind you"很好吃，不过有点儿辣。
但 dànshort, written价格高，但质量好。

  • 我想去，可是没时间。

    Wǒ xiǎng qù, kěshì méi shíjiān.

    I'd like to go, but I don't have time.

  • 很好吃，不过有点儿辣。

    Hěn hǎochī, búguò yǒudiǎnr là.

    It's delicious, though a bit spicy.

Reasons and results: 为, 原因, 结果

原因 (yuányīn) is "the reason" as a noun; 结果 (jiéguǒ) is "the result", and at the start of a clause it means "as it turned out". 为 + person + feeling means "for someone": 我为你高兴 (I'm happy for you).

  • 原因很简单。

    Yuányīn hěn jiǎndān.

    The reason is simple.

  • 他没复习，结果没考好。

    Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ méi kǎohǎo.

    He didn't revise, and as a result he did badly in the exam.

  • 我真为你高兴！

    Wǒ zhēn wèi nǐ gāoxìng!

    I'm so happy for you!

Common mistakes

  • ✗所以我没去，因为下雨。

    ✓因为下雨，所以我没去。

    Yīnwèi xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù.

    所以 always introduces the result in the second half. Reason first, result second is the default order.

  • ✗虽然很贵，很好。

    ✓虽然很贵，但是很好。

    Suīrán hěn guì, dànshì hěn hǎo.

    After 虽然 the second clause needs 但是 (or 可是, 不过). Unlike English, Chinese marks both halves.

Questions learners ask

Can I leave out 因为 or 所以?

Yes, either one. In speech you'll often hear just one of them: 我很累，所以不去了, or 因为很累，我不去了. Leaving out both is fine too when the link is obvious.

Can 因为 come second, like English?

Yes, as an afterthought: 我没去，因为下雨. But then there's no 所以. Reason-first is the more typical Chinese order.

Practice this in lessons

The Everyday Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

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