HSK 2 · Modal Verbs

所以 suǒyǐ “so” in Chinese

Said as suóyǐ

Same in Traditional

What 所以 means

  1. so, therefore
  2. as a result
  3. the reason why

How to say 所以

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale所suǒ3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale以yǐ3rd tone, dipping

Said as suóyǐ. When two third tones meet, the first one rises into a second tone. You still write it with two third tones. How tone changes work

所以 in a sentence

  1. 他每天跑步，所以身体很好。

    Tā měitiān pǎobù, suǒyǐ shēntǐ hěn hǎo.

    He runs every day so he is very healthy.

    Sentence #10501234 from Tatoeba

  2. 昨天下雨，所以我们都没去。

    Zuótiān xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒmen dōu méi qù.

    It rained yesterday, so none of us went.

    Sentence #10501237 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  3. 我住在海边所以经常去海滩。

    Wǒ zhù zài hǎibiān suǒyǐ jīngcháng qù hǎitān.

    I live by the sea, so I often go to the beach.

    Sentence #3636657 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

How 所以 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 所 (suǒ) with each of its parts in a different colour
所suǒactually
  • 户door · hù
  • 斤axe · jīn
The character 以 (yǐ) drawn as one shape
以yǐto use

以 is a single shape of 4 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.

How to write 所以

所 8 strokes · 以 4 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

所以 (suǒyǐ) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 所以 (suǒyǐ). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 所以

Words with 所

厕所cèsuǒ · toilet所有suǒyǒu · all所suǒ · (grammar particle introducing a passive or relative clause)无所谓wúsuǒwèi · to not matter场所chǎngsuǒ · place理所当然lǐsuǒdāngrán · naturally力所能及lìsuǒnéngjí · within one’s ability众所周知zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī · as everyone knows

Words with 以

可以kěyǐ · can以前yǐqián · before以后yǐhòu · after以下yǐxià · below以上yǐshàng · above以外yǐwài · apart from以yǐ · with以为yǐwéi · to think (wrongly)以及yǐjí · and以来yǐlái · since (a previous event)

More words: Modal Verbs & Connectors

别bié · don’t要yào · want为什么wèishénme · why也yě · also因为yīnwèi · because但是dànshì · but虽然suīrán · although再zài · again

FAQs

所以 (suǒyǐ) means “so, therefore” or “as a result”. It is an HSK 2 word, so it is one of the words learners meet early.
Say it suǒyǐ: suǒ with a 3rd tone, then yǐ with a 3rd tone. In speech it sounds like suóyǐ. When two third tones meet, the first one rises into a second tone. You still write it with two third tones. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 所以 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type suoyi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 所以 from the suggestions. Typing suoyi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
所以 is an HSK 2 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Turn words into conversations

A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

Book a free intro call

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.