之所以

zhīsuǒyǐ

conjunction HSK 7-9 #3,610

Meanings

1 the reason why
2 the reason that

Characters

possessive particle (classical)

because of; by means of

Examples

他之所以成功，是因为他从不放弃。

Tā zhīsuǒyǐ chénggōng, shìyīnwèi tā cóngbù fàngqì.

The reason he succeeded is that he never gave up.

我之所以迟到，是因为路上堵车了。

Wǒ zhīsuǒyǐ chídào, shìyīnwèi lùshàng dǔchē le.

The reason I was late is that there was a traffic jam.

Tips

grammar

之所以...是因为... is a fixed pattern meaning 'the reason ... is because ...'. 之所以 introduces the result, 是因为 introduces the cause. The cause-effect order is reversed compared to 因为...所以...

Stroke Order

之 zhī

所 suǒ

以 yǐ