How do you use "because / so" in a sentence?

I stayed home because it was raining.' (cause) It was raining, so I stayed home.' (result) She studied hard because she wanted to pass. She wanted to pass, so she studied hard.

because / so

Q: What does "because / so" mean?

Connect cause and effect 'Because' introduces the reason/cause (comes before the reason). 'So' introduces the result/effect (comes before the result). They express the same relationship but from different directions. Note: In formal writing, avoid starting sentences with 'because'.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Connect cause and effect

连接因果关系

Conectar causa y efecto

原因と結果を繋げる

원인과 결과를 연결하기

'Because' introduces the reason/cause (comes before the reason). 'So' introduces the result/effect (comes before the result). They express the same relationship but from different directions. Note: In formal writing, avoid starting sentences with 'because'.

'Because'引入原因（放在原因之前）。'So'引入结果（放在结果之前）。它们表达相同的关系但方向不同。注意：在正式写作中，避免用'because'开头句子。

'Because' introduce la razón/causa (viene antes de la razón). 'So' introduce el resultado/efecto (viene antes del resultado). Expresan la misma relación pero desde direcciones diferentes. Nota: en escritura formal, evita empezar oraciones con 'because'.

「Because」は理由/原因を導入します（理由の前に来る）。「So」は結果/効果を導入します（結果の前に来る）。同じ関係を表しますが方向が異なります。注意：フォーマルな文章では、文を「because」で始めるのを避けます。

'Because'는 이유/원인을 소개합니다(이유 앞에 옵니다). 'So'는 결과/효과를 소개합니다(결과 앞에 옵니다). 같은 관계를 표현하지만 방향이 다릅니다. 참고: 격식체 글에서는 문장을 'because'로 시작하는 것을 피하세요.

Examples

I stayed home because it was raining.' (cause)
我待在家里因为在下雨。'（原因）
Me quedé en casa porque estaba lloviendo.' (causa)
雨が降っていたので家にいました。'（原因）
비가 오고 있었기 때문에 집에 있었습니다. (원인)
It was raining, so I stayed home.' (result)
在下雨，所以我待在家里。'（结果）
Estaba lloviendo, así que me quedé en casa.' (resultado)
雨が降っていたので、家にいました。'（結果）
비가 오고 있었기 때문에 집에 있었습니다. (결과)
She studied hard because she wanted to pass.
她努力学习因为她想通过。
Ella estudió mucho porque quería aprobar.
彼女は合格したかったので一生懸命勉強しました。
그녀는 합격하고 싶었기 때문에 열심히 공부했습니다.
She wanted to pass, so she studied hard.
她想通过，所以她努力学习。
Ella quería aprobar, así que estudió mucho.
彼女は合格したかったので、一生懸命勉強しました。
그녀는 합격하고 싶었기 때문에 열심히 공부했습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: explanatory

✓ Do Say

I'm tired because I didn't sleep well.
我累了因为我没睡好。
Estoy cansado porque no dormí bien.
よく眠れなかったので疲れています。
잠을 잘 못 잤기 때문에 피곤합니다.
I didn't sleep well, so I'm tired.
我没睡好，所以我累了。
No dormí bien, así que estoy cansado.
よく眠れなかったので、疲れています。
잠을 잘 못 잤기 때문에 피곤합니다.
We left early because of the traffic.
我们早点走了因为交通。
Salimos temprano por el tráfico.
交通のため早く出ました。
교통 때문에 일찍 출발했습니다.
Because I was tired, I went home.
因为我累了，所以回家了。
Como estaba cansado/a, me fui a casa.
疲れていたので、家に帰りました。
피곤해서 집에 갔어요.
I'm tired because I didn't sleep.
我很累，因为我没睡觉。
Estoy cansado/a porque no dormí.
寝ていないので疲れています。
잠을 못 자서 피곤해요.

✗ Don't Say

Because I was tired, so I went home. (double conjunction)
Because I was tired, so I went home.（双重连词）
Because I was tired, so I went home. (doble conjunción)
Because I was tired, so I went home.（二重接続詞）
Because I was tired, so I went home.（이중 접속사）
I'm tired because of I didn't sleep. (wrong preposition)
I'm tired because of I didn't sleep.（介词错误）
I'm tired because of I didn't sleep. (preposición incorrecta)
I'm tired because of I didn't sleep.（前置詞が間違い）
I'm tired because of I didn't sleep.（전치사 오류）

Origin & History

Causal conjunctions

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal