How to use 因此
Cause，(subject +) 因此 + result
因此 introduces a consequence that follows from information already given. It points backward to the reason and forward to the resulting situation, much like therefore or consequently. The preceding explanation may be in the same sentence or an earlier sentence. This makes 因此 useful for organizing a clear chain of reasoning in reports and other explanatory writing.
Place it at the transition into the result clause or within that clause before the predicate, depending on the sentence. A subject may be explicit or recoverable from context. Unlike a word that introduces a reason, 因此 belongs with the consequence. Check that the link is genuinely causal or inferential rather than merely a sequence in time.
Examples with pinyin and English
我病了， 因此心情不好。
I am sick, therefore I am not in a good mood.
昨天下雨了， 因此我没有出门。
It rained yesterday, therefore I did not go out.
她在农村长大， 因此很了解农民的生活。
She grew up in the country, so she understands the country people's way of life.
我没有准备好所有的东西， 因此有些紧张。
I didn't fully prepare everything, so I was a little nervous.
What to remember
- Use 因此 with the consequence.
- Make the preceding reason clear.
- Do not confuse causal consequence with simple chronological order.
Practise the pattern
Practise this topic with the app’s grammar exercises. Your answers and review dates are saved separately from vocabulary practice.
Practise this grammar topic ↗Look up the grammar words
Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.