所以

1. therefore;so;consequently

   明天要考試了，所以我今天只能留在家裡複習功課。[MSC,trad.]
   明天要考试了，所以我今天只能留在家里复习功课。[MSC,simp.]

   Míngtiān yào kǎoshì le,suǒyǐ wǒ jīntiān zhǐ néng liú zài jiālǐ fùxí gōngkè.[Pinyin]

   I have a test tomorrow,so I have to stay at home today and review my homework.

   他是南方人，所以一張口說話就帶有南方口音。[MSC,trad.]
   他是南方人，所以一张口说话就带有南方口音。[MSC,simp.]

   Tā shì nánfāngrén,suǒyǐ yī zhāngkǒu shuōhuà jiù dàiyǒu nánfāng kǒuyīn.[Pinyin]

   He is from the South,so when he opens his mouth to speak, you can hear his Southern accent.

   今天是你奶奶的生辰，所以你非來不可。[MSC,trad.]
   今天是你奶奶的生辰，所以你非来不可。[MSC,simp.]

   Jīntiān shì nǐ nǎinai de shēngchén,suǒyǐ nǐ fēi lái bùkě.[Pinyin]

   It's your grandma's birthday today,so you've got to attend.

2. Used in the first part of a sentence to indicate a reason that will be explained in the second part of the sentence.

   我所以要反對這個計畫，是因為我覺得其中有不少疏漏。[MSC,trad.]
   我所以要反对这个计画，是因为我觉得其中有不少疏漏。[MSC,simp.]

   Wǒsuǒyǐ yào fǎnduì zhège jìhuà, shì yīnwèi wǒ juéde qízhōng yǒu bùshào shūlòu.[Pinyin]

   Myreason for opposing this plan, is because I feel that there are quite a few holes in it.

• (therefore):

所以

1. (literary) themeans(literally, "what one uses") by which;how

   • 君子不以其所以養人者害人。[Classical Chinese,trad.]
     君子不以其所以养人者害人。[Classical Chinese,simp.]

     From:Mencius,c. 4^th centuryBCE, translated based onJames Legge's version

     Jūnzǐ bù yǐ qísuǒyǐ yǎngrén zhě hàirén.[Pinyin]

     [A] ruler does not injure his people withthat wherewith he nourishes them.

   • 夫人所以貴者，乃此男也。[Classical Chinese,trad.]
     夫人所以贵者，乃此男也。[Classical Chinese,simp.]

     From: TheRecords of the Grand Historian, bySima Qian,c. 91BCE

     Fūrénsuǒyǐ guì zhě, nǎi cǐ nán yě.[Pinyin]

     Madame,the means through which you attain your destined status will be none but this son of yours.

2. (literary) themanner in which;how

   • 不患無位，患所以立。[Classical Chinese,trad.]
     不患无位，患所以立。[Classical Chinese,simp.]

     From: TheAnalects of Confucius,c. 475 – 221BCE, translated based onJames Legge's version

     Bù huàn wú wèi, huànsuǒyǐ lì.[Pinyin]

     I am not concerned that I have no place; I am concernedhow I may fit myself for one.

3. (literary) thereasonwhy;why

   所以然  ― suǒyǐrán  ― the reason why it is what it is

   之所以  ― zhīsuǒyǐ  ― the reason why (chiefly used between subject and predicate)

   • 斯民也，三代之所以直道而行也。[Classical Chinese,trad. andsimp.]

     From: TheAnalects of Confucius,c. 475 – 221BCE, translated based onJames Legge's version

     Sī mín yě, sāndài zhīsuǒyǐ zhídào ér xíng yě.[Pinyin]

     This people suppliedthe ground why the three dynasties pursued the path of straightforwardness.

   • 所以不報謝者，以為小禮無所用。[Classical Chinese,trad.]
     所以不报谢者，以为小礼无所用。[Classical Chinese,simp.]

     From: TheRecords of the Grand Historian, bySima Qian,c. 91BCE

     Suǒyǐ bù bàoxiè zhě, yǐwéi xiǎo lǐ wú suǒyòng.[Pinyin]

     The reason why I have not sought to repay your favour in gratitude is that I do not believe such petty courtesy is of any use to you.

所以

1. (literary)properbehaviour;manners

   忘乎所以  ― wànghūsuǒyǐ  ―  toloseself-control (literally, “to forget how one should conduct oneself”)

• 蔡俊明 [Choy Chun-ming], editor (1991), “所以so˥˧꜔꜒ i~˥˧꜕꜖”, in潮州方言詞滙 [Cháozhōu fāngyán cíhuì],香港 [Xiānggǎng,Hong Kong]:香港中文大學 [The Chinese University of Hong Kong]

• → Vietnamese:thửa mặc(calque)

Shift fromゆえになり(yue ni nari) →ゆえんなり(yue n nari) →ゆえん(yue-n). Seeゆえ(yue).^[1][2][3] The kanji arejukujikun (熟(じゅく)字(じ)訓(くん)).

• (Tokyo)ゆえん[yùéń] (Heiban – [0])^[3]
• IPA^(key): [jɯ̟ẽ̞ɴ]

所以(ゆえん)• (yuen) ^{←ゆゑん(yuwen)?}

1. reason,grounds
   • 2025 August 14 (last accessed),森山裕 [Hiroshi Moriyama], quotee, “第217回国会　衆議院　本会議　第2号　令和7年1月27日 [217th Diet, House of Representatives, Plenary Session No. 2, January 27, 2025]”, in国会会議録検索システム [Diet Proceedings Search System]‎^[1],国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library]:

     地方こそ成長の主役であるゆえんは、地方を最も理解しているのはその地域に携わる方々だからであります。

     Chihō koso seichō no shuyaku de aruyuen wa, chihō o mottomo rikai shite iru no wa sono chiiki ni tazusawaru katagata dakara de ari masu.

     Thereason why local areas are the main players in growth is because the people who understand local areas best are the people who are involved in those areas.

• “〈所以〉”, in漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎^[2] (in Japanese),The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation,2015–2026

所以

1. chữ Hán form ofsở dĩ(“thereasonwhy ... (is)”)

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