因为...所以... (yīnwèi...suǒyǐ...) - Because...Therefore

Think of this pattern as a two-part package. In English, we usually pick one. We say "Because I was tired, I slept." Or we say "I was tired, so I slept." We rarely use both in one sentence. But in Chinese, using both is the standard. It feels balanced to a native speaker. 因为 introduces the cause. 所以 introduces the result. You can think of it like a train. 因为 is the engine. The reason is the first car. 所以 is the connector. The result is the caboose. It keeps everything moving in the right direction.

1. 1Start your sentence with 因为 (yīnwèi).
2. 2State your reason or the cause.
3. 3Place a comma to catch your breath.
4. 4Start the second half with 所以 (suǒyǐ).
5. 5State the result or the action taken.
6. 6Structure: 因为 + [Reason], 所以 + [Result].
7. 7Example: 因为天气很热，所以我想喝水。 (Because the weather is hot, so I want to drink water.)

You should use this whenever you want to be clear. It is perfect for real-world scenarios.

• Ordering food: 因为我不吃肉，所以请不要放猪肉。 (Because I don't eat meat, so please don't put pork.)
• Asking directions: 因为我迷路了，所以请帮帮我。 (Because I am lost, so please help me.)
• Job interviews: 因为我有经验，所以能做好这份工作。 (Because I have experience, so I can do this job well.)
• Making excuses: 因为堵车，所以我迟到了。 (Because of a traffic jam, so I am late.)

It works for both big life events and small daily tasks. It is like a grammar multi-tool.

Do not use this if the reason is incredibly obvious. If you are dripping wet and holding an umbrella, you do not need to say "Because it is raining..." Just say the result. Also, avoid it in very formal writing where you might use 由于 (yóuyú) instead. In very short, casual chats with close friends, you might drop the 因为. You might just say the reason and then 所以 + result. But as an A2 learner, sticking to the full pair is safer. It prevents you from sounding too blunt.

One big mistake is using 因为 twice. You only need it at the start of the cause. Another mistake is forgetting the 所以. While native speakers sometimes drop it, your sentence might feel like it is hanging off a cliff.

• ✗ 因为我累，因为我想睡觉。 (Wrong: Because I'm tired, because I want to sleep.)
• ✓ 因为我累，所以我想睡觉。 (Correct: Because I'm tired, so I want to sleep.)

Also, watch your word order. The subject can sometimes move around. You can say 因为我... or 我因为.... Both are usually fine. But keep it simple for now. Put 因为 at the very beginning. It is like a green light for your listener. They know a reason is coming.

You might see 之所以...是因为.... This is the "reverse" version. It means "The reason... is because...". This is much more formal. It is like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. Stick to 因为...所以... for now. It is much more natural for daily life. Another one is 由于. This is like the serious older cousin of 因为. Use 由于 when you are writing a report or a formal speech. For talking about why you forgot your homework, 因为 is perfect.