Word
之所以 (zhī suǒ yǐ) — Chinese word meaning
HSK 6
之所以 (zhī suǒ yǐ) is a Chinese word: the reason why. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.
Meaning of 之所以
连 lián conjunction
the reason why
我之所以学中文,是因为我喜欢中国文化。
wǒ zhī suǒ yǐ xué zhōng wén shì yīn wèi wǒ xǐ huān zhōng guó wén huà
The reason why I study Chinese is because I like Chinese culture.
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Word breakdown
之 zhī — grammatical particle linking the reason
Words with this character (24)
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Example
在众多选择之中,这是最好的。
zài zhòng duō xuǎn zé zhī zhōng zhè shì zuì hǎo de
Among many choices, this is the best.
-
Example
三年之前我不会说中文。
sān nián zhī qián wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén
Three years ago, I couldn't speak Chinese.
-
- 之 classical linking particle connecting to the temporal concept
- 后 after, later (provides the temporal meaning)
Example
毕业之后他去了北京工作。
bì yè zhī hòu tā qù le běi jīng gōng zuò
After graduation, he went to Beijing to work.
-
Example
我们之间没有秘密。
wǒ men zhī jiān méi yǒu mì mì
There are no secrets between us.
-
Example
总之,我们要努力学习。
zǒng zhī wǒ men yào nǔ lì xué xí
In short, we need to study hard.
Show more (+19)
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Example
他虽然学历不高,但有一技之长,生活得很好。
tā suī rán xué lì bù gāo dàn yǒu yī jì zhī cháng shēng huó de hěn hǎo
Although he doesn't have high education, he has a special skill and lives well.
-
- 不 not; negates the action of concluding
- 了 to finish, to settle; indicates completion
- 了 to finish; reinforces the sense of completion
- 之 it, this (classical particle); refers to the matter
Example
这件事不能不了了之,我们必须找到解决办法。
zhè jiàn shì bù néng bù liǎo liǎo zhī wǒ men bì xū zhǎo dào jiě jué bàn fǎ
This matter cannot be left unresolved; we must find a solution.
-
- 不 not, negation marker
- 正 proper, correct, righteous
- 之 of (classical possessive marker)
- 风 wind, trend, custom, atmosphere
Example
我们必须坚决抵制社会上的不正之风。
wǒ men bì xū jiān jué dǐ zhì shè huì shàng de bù zhèng zhī fēng
We must firmly resist unhealthy trends in society.
-
Example
新年之际,祝你万事如意。
xīn nián zhī jì zhù nǐ wàn shì rú yì
On the occasion of the New Year, I wish you all the best.
-
- 井 well (a confined, narrow space symbolizing limitation)
- 底 bottom (emphasizes the lowest position, furthest from the wider world)
- 之 of/at (classical possessive/locative particle connecting the location to the subject)
- 蛙 frog (the subject with limited perspective due to confined environment)
Example
不要做井底之蛙,要开阔眼界。
bú yào zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā yào kāi kuò yǎn jiè
Don't be a frog at the bottom of a well, broaden your horizons.
-
Example
天气很冷,加之下雨,我们决定不出去了。
tiān qì hěn lěng jiā zhī xià yǔ wǒ men jué dìng bù chū qù le
The weather is very cold, and moreover it's raining, so we decided not to go out.
-
Example
他喜欢夏天,反之,我更喜欢冬天。
tā xǐ huan xià tiān fǎn zhī wǒ gèng xǐ huan dōng tiān
He likes summer; conversely, I prefer winter.
-
- 取 to take, to seize
- 而 and then, and (connects sequential actions)
- 代 to replace, to substitute
- 之 it, that (classical pronoun for what is replaced)
Example
手工劳动逐渐被机器取而代之。
shǒu gōng láo dòng zhú jiàn bèi jī qì qǔ ér dài zhī
Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machines.
-
- 可 can, possible (indicates exploitability)
- 乘 to take advantage of, to exploit
- 之 grammatical particle (possessive/attributive marker)
- 机 opportunity, chance
Example
公司管理松懈,给了竞争对手可乘之机。
gōng sī guǎn lǐ sōng xiè gěi le jìng zhēng duì shǒu kě chéng zhī jī
The company's lax management gave competitors an opportunity to exploit.
-
- 后 rear; behind; what's left behind
- 顾 look back at; be concerned about
- 之 possessive particle (classical)
- 忧 worry; anxiety; concern
Example
有了稳定的工作,他就没有后顾之忧了。
yǒu le wěn dìng de gōng zuò tā jiù méi yǒu hòu gù zhī yōu le
With a stable job, he no longer has worries about the future.
-
- 天 heaven/natural; indicates natural or heavenly bonds
- 伦 relationships/ethics; refers to family relationships
- 之 possessive particle; means 'of'
- 乐 joy/happiness; the pleasure derived from something
Example
周末全家人聚在一起,享受天伦之乐。
zhōu mò quán jiā rén jù zài yì qǐ xiǎng shòu tiān lún zhī lè
On the weekend, the whole family gathers together and enjoys family happiness.
-
- 当 to bear, to face (something deserved)
- 之 it (referring to the honor or recognition)
- 无 without, not have
- 愧 shame, guilt, ashamed
Example
她获得这个奖项当之无愧。
tā huò dé zhè ge jiǎng xiàng dāng zhī wú kuì
She fully deserves this award.
-
Example
提高教育质量是国家的当务之急。
tí gāo jiào yù zhì liàng shì guó jiā de dāng wù zhī jí
Improving education quality is the nation's top priority.
-
- 总 overall, general (provides the summarizing aspect)
- 而 and (grammatical connector linking 'overall' to 'speaking')
- 言 to speak, words (indicates verbal expression)
- 之 it (classical particle completing the phrase)
Example
总而言之,学习中文需要耐心和努力。
zǒng ér yán zhī xué xí zhōng wén xū yào nài xīn hé nǔ lì
In summary, learning Chinese requires patience and effort.
-
- 持 to hold; to maintain
- 之 it; this (classical particle)
- 以 with; by means of
- 恒 constancy; permanence; perseverance
Example
只要持之以恒,你一定能成功。
zhǐ yào chí zhī yǐ héng nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng
As long as you persevere, you will definitely succeed.
-
- 敬 to respect, to revere
- 而 but, yet (conjunction connecting respect and distance)
- 远 far, distant (to keep at a distance)
- 之 it, them (classical pronoun referring to the object being kept at distance)
Example
他对那些复杂的人际关系总是敬而远之。
tā duì nà xiē fù zá de rén jì guān xi zǒng shì jìng ér yuǎn zhī
He always maintains a respectful distance from those complex interpersonal relationships.
-
Example
健康是人生中的无价之宝。
jiàn kāng shì rén shēng zhōng de wú jià zhī bǎo
Health is a priceless treasure in life.
-
- 来 to come; represents the arrival or obtaining of something
- 之 classical possessive particle; connects the components
- 不 not; negates the following character
- 易 easy; refers to ease or simplicity
Example
这个机会来之不易,你一定要把握住。
zhè ge jī huì lái zhī bù yì nǐ yí dìng yào bǎ wò zhù
This opportunity is hard-won, you must seize it.
-
- 重 important, weighty (first occurrence, indicating something of importance)
- 中 among, within (indicating selection from a group)
- 之 of (classical possessive particle connecting the concepts)
- 重 important, weighty (second occurrence, completing the emphatic structure)
Example
教育是国家发展的重中之重。
jiào yù shì guó jiā fā zhǎn de zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng
Education is the top priority for national development.
所 suǒ — that which, indicating the object or thing
Words with this character (23)
-
Example
天气很冷,所以我穿了很多衣服。
tiān qì hěn lěng suǒ yǐ wǒ chuān le hěn duō yī fu
The weather is very cold, so I wore a lot of clothes.
-
Example
厕所在哪儿?
cè suǒ zài nǎr
Where is the toilet?
-
- 所 structural particle that combines with verbs; here forms 'all/possess'
- 有 to have, to possess; provides the core meaning of possession or totality
Example
所有的学生都来了。
suǒ yǒu de xué sheng dōu lái le
All the students came.
-
Example
这是一个公共场所。
zhè shì yí gè gōng gòng chǎng suǒ
This is a public place.
-
Example
我去派出所报案了。
wǒ qù pài chū suǒ bào àn le
I went to the police station to report a case.
Show more (+18)
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- 众 everyone, the masses
- 所 grammatical particle forming 'that which'
- 周 universally, comprehensively, all around
- 知 know, be aware of
Example
众所周知,中国是世界上人口最多的国家。
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī Zhōng guó shì shì jiè shàng rén kǒu zuì duō de guó jiā
As is well known, China is the country with the largest population in the world.
-
Example
你想吃什么?我无所谓。
nǐ xiǎng chī shén me wǒ wú suǒ wèi
What do you want to eat? I don't care.
-
- 一 one; even one (emphasizing totality)
- 无 not have; without
- 所 structural particle (forming 所有: possessions)
- 有 have; possess
Example
她离开家时一无所有,但现在很成功。
tā lí kāi jiā shí yì wú suǒ yǒu dàn xiàn zài hěn chéng gōng
When she left home she had nothing, but now she is very successful.
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- 一 one (in negative construction: not even one)
- 无 not have, without
- 所 that which, what (nominalizer)
- 知 to know, knowledge
Example
他对这件事一无所知。
tā duì zhè jiàn shì yì wú suǒ zhī
He knows nothing at all about this matter.
-
Example
孩子走丢了,妈妈急得不知所措。
hái zi zǒu diū le mā ma jí de bù zhī suǒ cuò
The child got lost, and the mother was so anxious she didn't know what to do.
-
- 事 matters, business, affairs
- 务 affairs, duties, business tasks
- 所 place, location, office establishment
Example
他在一家律师事务所工作。
tā zài yì jiā lǜ shī shì wù suǒ gōng zuò
He works at a law firm.
-
Example
这是一次前所未有的挑战。
zhè shì yī cì qián suǒ wèi yǒu de tiǎo zhàn
This is an unprecedented challenge.
-
Example
他总是做力所能及的事帮助别人。
tā zǒng shì zuò lì suǒ néng jí de shì bāng zhù bié rén
He always does what he can to help others.
-
- 在 be at/in; indicates the state of being
- 所 that which; nominalizer marking what follows
- 难 difficult; indicates difficulty
- 免 avoid, escape; the action that is difficult to do
Example
新手开车,出点小错误在所难免。
xīn shǒu kāi chē chū diǎn xiǎo cuò wù zài suǒ nán miǎn
When novices drive, making small mistakes is unavoidable.
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- 所 nominalizing particle meaning 'that which' or 'what'
- 作 to do, to make, to act
- 所 nominalizing particle (repeated for emphasis) meaning 'that which'
- 为 to act, to do, to behave
Example
他的所作所为让我很失望。
tā de suǒ zuò suǒ wéi ràng wǒ hěn shī wàng
His actions and deeds made me very disappointed.
-
Example
这个城市是我成长的所在。
zhè ge chéng shì shì wǒ chéng zhǎng de suǒ zài
This city is the place where I grew up.
-
Example
请填写您的所属部门。
qǐng tián xiě nín de suǒ shǔ bù mén
Please fill in your affiliated department.
-
Example
他的所谓理由根本站不住脚。
tā de suǒ wèi lǐ yóu gēn běn zhàn bù zhù jiǎo
His so-called reasons don't hold up at all.
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- 无 without; not have
- 所 thing; forms 'nothing' when combined with 无
- 事 affair; matter; thing to do
- 事 affair; matter (repeated for emphasis)
Example
他整天无所事事,什么都不想做。
tā zhěng tiān wú suǒ shì shì shén me dōu bù xiǎng zuò
He has nothing to do all day and doesn't want to do anything.
-
Example
面对困难,我们不能无所作为。
miàn duì kùn nan wǒ men bù néng wú suǒ zuò wéi
Facing difficulties, we cannot do nothing.
-
- 理 reason, principle, logic
- 所 that which (grammatical particle connecting elements)
- 当 should, ought to, appropriate
- 然 so, thus, in that way (natural state)
Example
父母关心孩子是理所当然的事。
fù mǔ guān xīn hái zi shì lǐ suǒ dāng rán de shì
Parents caring for their children is a matter of course.
-
Example
附近有一家新开的诊所。
fù jìn yǒu yì jiā xīn kāi de zhěn suǒ
There's a newly opened clinic nearby.
-
Example
退休后,她终于可以随心所欲地旅行了。
tuì xiū hòu tā zhōng yú kě yǐ suí xīn suǒ yù de lǚ xíng le
After retirement, she could finally travel as she pleased.
以 yǐ — by means of, because of (causal meaning)
Words with this character (31)
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- 可 can; able to; expressing possibility or permission
- 以 by means of; complements 可 to form expressions of ability or acceptability
Example
我可以帮你。
wǒ kě yǐ bāng nǐ
I can help you.
-
Example
天气很冷,所以我穿了很多衣服。
tiān qì hěn lěng suǒ yǐ wǒ chuān le hěn duō yī fu
The weather is very cold, so I wore a lot of clothes.
-
- 以 from, starting from (indicates a reference point)
- 上 up, above (indicates upward direction or higher value)
Example
十八岁以上的人可以投票。
shí bā suì yǐ shàng de rén kě yǐ tóu piào
People 18 years and above can vote.
-
Example
请看以下说明。
qǐng kàn yǐ xià shuō míng
Please see the following instructions.
-
Example
我以为他不来了。
wǒ yǐ wéi tā bù lái le
I thought he wasn't coming.
Show more (+26)
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- 以 grammatical marker connecting with 前 to form time expression
- 前 before, previous (in terms of time)
Example
我以前住在北京。
wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài běi jīng
I lived in Beijing before.
-
- 以 from; by means of (marks the starting point in time)
- 后 after; later; behind (provides the temporal direction)
Example
以后我会更加努力。
yǐ hòu wǒ huì gèng jiā nǔ lì
In the future, I will work even harder.
-
Example
除了中文以外,我还会说英语。
chú le zhōng wén yǐ wài wǒ hái huì shuō yīng yǔ
Besides Chinese, I can also speak English.
-
- 以 by means of, with (functions as a preposition establishing a boundary)
- 内 inside, within (indicates interior space or limit)
Example
请在三天以内完成这项工作。
qǐng zài sān tiān yǐ nèi wán chéng zhè xiàng gōng zuò
Please complete this work within three days.
-
Example
会议讨论了经济以及环境问题。
huì yì tǎo lùn le jīng jì yǐ jí huán jìng wèn tí
The meeting discussed economic as well as environmental issues.
-
- 以 from, since (marking the starting point in time)
- 来 coming up to now (indicates direction toward present)
Example
改革开放以来,中国发生了巨大的变化。
gǎi gé kāi fàng yǐ lái zhōng guó fā shēng le jù dà de biàn huà
Since the reform and opening up, China has undergone tremendous changes.
-
Example
这种感觉难以形容。
zhè zhǒng gǎn jué nán yǐ xíng róng
This feeling is hard to describe.
-
- 以 by means of, in order to (grammatical marker indicating purpose)
- 便 convenient, then (combines with 以 to express facilitation of purpose)
Example
请提前预订,以便我们安排座位。
qǐng tí qián yù dìng yǐ biàn wǒ men ān pái zuò wèi
Please book in advance so that we can arrange seats.
-
Example
请早点出发,以免迟到。
qǐng zǎo diǎn chū fā yǐ miǎn chí dào
Please leave early so as not to be late.
-
Example
他比以往更加努力了。
tā bǐ yǐ wǎng gèng jiā nǔ lì le
He works harder than before.
-
Example
这个问题需要加以解决。
zhè ge wèn tí xū yào jiā yǐ jiě jué
This problem needs to be resolved.
-
Example
通过努力学习,她得以考上理想的大学。
tōng guò nǔ lì xué xí tā dé yǐ kǎo shàng lǐ xiǎng de dà xué
Through diligent study, she was able to get into her ideal university.
-
Example
一个微笑足以让人感到温暖。
yí gè wēi xiào zú yǐ ràng rén gǎn dào wēn nuǎn
A smile is enough to make people feel warm.
-
Example
他对我的建议不以为然。
tā duì wǒ de jiàn yì bù yǐ wéi rán
He disapproves of my suggestion.
-
Example
学校对优秀学生予以奖励。
xué xiào duì yōu xiù xué shēng yǔ yǐ jiǎng lì
The school gives rewards to outstanding students.
-
- 以 by means of; using (forms part of conjunction)
- 至 to reach; to arrive at (indicates extent)
- 于 at; in (preposition completing the conjunction)
Example
她太累了,以至于在会议上睡着了。
tā tài lèi le yǐ zhì yú zài huì yì shàng shuì zháo le
She was so tired that she fell asleep during the meeting.
-
- 以 by means of; because of (provides causal element)
- 致 to lead to; to result in (provides consequence element)
Example
他工作太累,以致生病了。
tā gōng zuò tài lèi yǐ zhì shēng bìng le
He worked so hard that he became ill.
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Example
作为领导,他总是以身作则。
zuò wéi lǐng dǎo tā zǒng shì yǐ shēn zuò zé
As a leader, he always leads by example.
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- 全 complete, entire, all
- 力 strength, effort, power
- 以 with, using, by means of
- 赴 go to, devote to, attend to
Example
为了实现目标,我们要全力以赴。
wèi le shí xiàn mù biāo wǒ men yào quán lì yǐ fù
To achieve our goal, we must go all out.
-
Example
他夜以继日地工作,终于完成了项目。
tā yè yǐ jì rì de gōng zuò zhōng yú wán chéng le xiàng mù
He worked day and night and finally completed the project.
-
Example
经过多年的努力,他终于如愿以偿考上了理想的大学。
jīng guò duō nián de nǔ lì tā zhōng yú rú yuàn yǐ cháng kǎo shàng le lǐ xiǎng de dà xué
After years of effort, he finally had his wish fulfilled and was admitted to his ideal university.
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- 持 to hold; to maintain
- 之 it; this (classical particle)
- 以 with; by means of
- 恒 constancy; permanence; perseverance
Example
只要持之以恒,你一定能成功。
zhǐ yào chí zhī yǐ héng nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng
As long as you persevere, you will definitely succeed.
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- 梦 dream; represents desires during sleep
- 寐 sleep; emphasizes the constant nature of the desire
- 以 by means of; grammatical connector linking dream/sleep to seeking
- 求 seek; pursue; represents the active pursuit of the desired object
Example
他终于得到了梦寐以求的录取通知书。
tā zhōng yú dé dào le mèng mèi yǐ qiú de lù qǔ tōng zhī shū
He finally received the acceptance letter he had been longing for.
-
Example
他总是自以为是,从不听别人的意见。
tā zǒng shì zì yǐ wéi shì cóng bù tīng bié rén de yì jiàn
He is always self-righteous and never listens to others' opinions.
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- 长 long (duration)
- 期 period, term
- 以 by, with (grammatical connector)
- 来 come, since (indicates time up to now)
Example
长期以来,他一直在研究这个问题。
cháng qī yǐ lái tā yì zhí zài yán jiū zhè ge wèn tí
For a long time, he has been researching this problem.
-
Example
这个消息真是难以置信。
zhè ge xiāo xi zhēn shì nán yǐ zhì xìn
This news is really unbelievable.
Structure & writing
之 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order
所 is not used as a component in any other character.
consists of
户 is a component in 11 characters
斤 is a component in 15 characters
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
Stroke order
以 is a component in 2 characters
以 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order