Building an Argument: 首先, 之所以…是因为, 从而, 可见, 一来…二来, 以致

Ordering and summing up

首先 (shǒuxiān, first), 其次 (qícì, second, next), 再次 (zàicì, thirdly) and 最后 (zuìhòu, finally) list points in order. 一方面…另一方面 (on the one hand … on the other) balances two sides. 一来…二来 (yī lái … èr lái) gives two reasons in conversation: 'for one thing … for another'.

总之 (zǒngzhī, in short) and 总而言之 (more formal) sum up; 换句话说 (huàn jù huà shuō, in other words) rephrases. 可见 (kějiàn) and 由此可见 (yóucǐ kějiàn) mean 'this shows that, it follows that': they draw a conclusion from evidence just given.

• 首先，我们要明确目标；其次，要制定详细的计划。

  Shǒuxiān, wǒmen yào míngquè mùbiāo; qícì, yào zhìdìng xiángxì de jìhuà.

  First, we need to be clear about our goals; second, we need to draw up a detailed plan.

• 我不想去，一来太远，二来我也没时间。

  Wǒ bù xiǎng qù, yī lái tài yuǎn, èr lái wǒ yě méi shíjiān.

  I don't want to go: for one thing it's too far, and for another I don't have time.

• 他连续三年获得冠军，可见他的实力有多强。

  Tā liánxù sān nián huòdé guànjūn, kějiàn tā de shílì yǒu duō qiáng.

  He has won the championship three years running, which shows how strong he is.

之所以…是因为: the reason why

之所以 A，是因为 B (zhīsuǒyǐ A, shì yīnwèi B) reverses the usual order: the result comes first, then the reason. 'The reason A is that B.' 他之所以成功，是因为他从不放弃 (the reason he succeeded is that he never gave up). Use it when the result is already known and you're explaining it.

之所以 goes after the subject; 是因为 opens the second clause.

• 我之所以学中文，是因为对中国文化很感兴趣。

  Wǒ zhīsuǒyǐ xué Zhōngwén, shì yīnwèi duì Zhōngguó wénhuà hěn gǎn xìngqù.

  The reason I'm learning Chinese is that I'm very interested in Chinese culture.

Consequences: 从而, 进而, 因而, 以致

从而 (cóng'ér) means 'thereby, and thus': a planned action achieves a further result. 改进技术，从而提高效率 (improve the technology and thereby raise efficiency).

进而 (jìn'ér) means 'and then go further to': the next stage. 因而 (yīn'ér) is a formal 'therefore'.

以致 (yǐzhì) and 以至于 (yǐzhìyú) mean 'with the result that', and the result is usually bad: 他太粗心，以致出了大错 (he was so careless that he made a serious mistake).

• 公司简化了流程，从而节省了大量时间。

  Gōngsī jiǎnhuàle liúchéng, cóng'ér jiéshěngle dàliàng shíjiān.

  The company simplified its procedures, thereby saving a great deal of time.

• 他长期熬夜，以致身体越来越差。

  Tā chángqī áo yè, yǐzhì shēntǐ yuè lái yuè chà.

  He stayed up late for years, so that his health got worse and worse.

Common mistakes

• ✗因为他从不放弃，之所以他成功了。

  ✓他之所以成功，是因为他从不放弃。

  Tā zhīsuǒyǐ chénggōng, shì yīnwèi tā cóng bú fàngqì.

  之所以 introduces the result first, and 是因为 the reason second. It isn't a fancy 所以.

• ✗他每天锻炼，以致身体很好。

  ✓他每天锻炼，因此身体很好。

  Tā měi tiān duànliàn, yīncǐ shēntǐ hěn hǎo.

  以致 introduces an unwelcome result. For a good one, use 因此, 所以 or 从而.

• ✗我们加强合作，从而我们提高了效率。

  ✓我们加强合作，从而提高了效率。

  Wǒmen jiāqiáng hézuò, cóng'ér tígāole xiàolǜ.

  从而 links two actions by the same subject, so the subject isn't repeated after it.

Questions learners ask

Related grammar guides

• Contrast and Choice: 然而, 而, 固然, 与其…不如, 宁可, 就算 and 要不是 · Advanced Chinese
• Formal Frames and Prepositions: 以…为, 于, 将, 加以, 凭, 鉴于, 就…而言, 至于 and 使 · Advanced Chinese