HSK 7-9
（因）……，故……
(yīn)..., gù...
Because..., therefore... (literary)
Structure
(因) + Cause / Reason, + 故 + Result
How it works
This structure is a formal and literary alternative to '因为……所以……'. While '因' (because) is often omitted in more concise writing, '故' (therefore/hence) serves as the formal transition to the result.
Examples
该地常年干旱，故农业发展极其受限。
Gāi dì chángnián gānhàn, gù nóngyè fāzhǎn jíqí shòuxiàn.
This area suffers from year-round drought; hence, agricultural development is extremely limited.
因双方政见不合，故谈判最终陷入僵局。
Yīn shuāngfāng zhèngjiàn bùhé, gù tánpàn zuìzhōng xiànrù jiāngjú.
Because the political views of both parties disagreed, the negotiations eventually reached a deadlock.
此人行踪诡秘，故引起了警方的怀疑。
Cǐ rén xíngzōng guǐmì, gù yǐnqǐ le jǐngfāng de huáiyí.
This person's whereabouts were secretive; therefore, it aroused the suspicion of the police.
Common mistakes
Using this structure in casual, spoken conversation makes the speaker sound overly dramatic or unnatural; it should be reserved for written reports, formal speeches, or literature.
Tip
In very concise academic or legal writing, '因' is frequently omitted, leaving only '故' to connect the sentences. Think of '故' as the equivalent of 'therefore' or 'hence' in English.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See （因）……，故…… in real Chinese
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