Traditional Chinese - Lesson 39 of 152: Reasons

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

所以是因為這樣才___嗎？

Suǒyǐ shì yīnwèi zhèyàng cái ___ ma?

Is that why ___?

Meaning: Is that why ___?

When to use: Use this when someone has just explained a situation, and you want to confirm that it caused the result.

Tip: Don’t drop 才 (cái) here; it helps show the result happened because of that reason.

所以是因為這樣才遲到嗎？

Suǒyǐ shì yīnwèi zhèyàng cái chídào ma?

Is that why you were late?

所以是因為這樣才取消會議嗎？

Suǒyǐ shì yīnwèi zhèyàng cái qǔxiāo huìyì ma?

Is that why the meeting was canceled?

我決定___，是因為___。

Wǒ juédìng ___, shì yīnwèi ___。

I decided to ___ because of ___.

Meaning: I decided to ___ because of ___.

When to use: Use this to explain the reason behind a decision you made.

我決定搬家，是因為房租太貴。

Wǒ juédìng bānjiā, shì yīnwèi fángzū tài guì.

I decided to move because the rent is too expensive.

我決定先休息，是因為最近太累。

Wǒ juédìng xiān xiūxí, shì yīnwèi zuìjìn tài lèi.

I decided to rest first because I’ve been too tired lately.

我沒有___，因為我當時___。

Wǒ méiyǒu ___, yīnwèi wǒ dāngshí ___。

I didn't ___ because I was ___.

Meaning: I didn’t ___ because I was ___.

When to use: Use this to explain why you did not do something, especially because of your situation at that time.

我沒有回訊息，因為我當時在開會。

Wǒ méiyǒu huí xùnxí, yīnwèi wǒ dāngshí zài kāihuì.

I didn’t reply to the message because I was in a meeting at the time.

我沒有去聚餐，因為我當時不太舒服。

Wǒ méiyǒu qù jùcān, yīnwèi wǒ dāngshí bú tài shūfú.

I didn’t go to the dinner because I wasn’t feeling very well at the time.

其中一個原因是___。

Qízhōng yí ge yuányīn shì ___。

One reason is that ___.

Meaning: One reason is that ___.

When to use: Use this when you want to introduce one reason, especially when there may be more than one.

其中一個原因是交通不方便。

Qízhōng yí ge yuányīn shì jiāotōng bù fāngbiàn.

One reason is that transportation is inconvenient.

其中一個原因是時間太趕。

Qízhōng yí ge yuányīn shì shíjiān tài gǎn.

One reason is that the timing is too rushed.

所以我才___。

Suǒyǐ wǒ cái ___。

That's why I ___.

Meaning: That’s why I ___.

When to use: Use this after giving a reason, to connect it to what you did.

Tip: 所以 (suǒyǐ) gives the result, and 才 (cái) adds the feeling of “that’s why.” Together, they sound very natural.

外面下大雨，所以我才叫計程車。

Wàimiàn xià dà yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ cái jiào jìchéngchē.

It was raining hard outside, so that’s why I called a taxi.

我怕來不及，所以我才早一點出門。

Wǒ pà lái bu jí, suǒyǐ wǒ cái zǎo yìdiǎn chūmén.

I was afraid I wouldn’t make it in time, so that’s why I left a little earlier.

我會這樣問，是因為___。

Wǒ huì zhèyàng wèn, shì yīnwèi ___。

The reason I ask is ___.

Meaning: The reason I ask is ___.

When to use: Use this when you ask a question and want to explain why you’re asking.

我會這樣問，是因為我想確認時間。

Wǒ huì zhèyàng wèn, shì yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng quèrèn shíjiān.

The reason I ask is that I want to confirm the time.

我會這樣問，是因為我有點擔心。

Wǒ huì zhèyàng wèn, shì yīnwèi wǒ yǒudiǎn dānxīn.

The reason I ask is that I’m a little worried.

___是怎麼造成的？

___ shì zěnme zàochéng de?

What led to ___?

Meaning: What led to ___?

When to use: Use this to ask about the cause of a situation, result, or problem.

這個問題是怎麼造成的？

Zhège wèntí shì zěnme zàochéng de?

What led to this problem?

這次的延誤是怎麼造成的？

Zhè cì de yánwù shì zěnme zàochéng de?

What led to this delay?

是因為___嗎？

Shì yīnwèi ___ ma?

Was it due to ___?

Meaning: Was it due to ___?

When to use: Use this to check if your guess about the cause is correct.

是因為天氣不好嗎？

Shì yīnwèi tiānqì bù hǎo ma?

Was it because the weather was bad?

是因為你太忙嗎？

Shì yīnwèi nǐ tài máng ma?

Was it because you were too busy?

我覺得___，所以就___。

Wǒ juéde ___, suǒyǐ jiù ___。

I thought ___, so I ___.

Meaning: I thought ___, so I ___.

When to use: Use this when your action came from what you believed, understood, or felt at the time.

我覺得時間不夠，所以就先回家。

Wǒ juéde shíjiān bù gòu, suǒyǐ jiù xiān huí jiā.

I thought there wasn’t enough time, so I went home first.

我覺得他可能會遲到，所以就先打電話給他。

Wǒ juéde tā kěnéng huì chídào, suǒyǐ jiù xiān dǎ diànhuà gěi tā.

I thought he might be late, so I called him first.

當時的問題是___。

Dāngshí de wèntí shì ___。

The problem was that ___.

Meaning: The problem was that ___.

When to use: Use this to explain the key problem in a past situation.

Tip: 當時 (dāngshí) means “at that time,” so it makes the past context clear without needing an English-style past tense.

當時的問題是網路很慢。

Dāngshí de wèntí shì wǎnglù hěn màn.

The problem was that the internet was very slow.

當時的問題是大家都不知道地址。

Dāngshí de wèntí shì dàjiā dōu bù zhīdào dìzhǐ.

The problem was that no one knew the address.

原因有幾個

Yuányīn yǒu jǐ ge。

There are a few reasons.

Meaning: There are a few reasons.

When to use: Use this before you list more than one reason.

原因有幾個，我慢慢說。

Yuányīn yǒu jǐ ge, wǒ màn man shuō.

There are a few reasons; I’ll explain slowly.

原因有幾個，不是只有一個問題。

Yuányīn yǒu jǐ ge, bú shì zhǐ yǒu yí ge wèntí.

There are a few reasons; it’s not just one problem.

另一個原因是___。

Lìng yí ge yuányīn shì ___。

Another reason is that ___.

Meaning: Another reason is that ___.

When to use: Use this to add another reason after you’ve already mentioned one.

另一個原因是我那天很忙。

Lìng yí ge yuányīn shì wǒ nà tiān hěn máng.

Another reason is that I was busy that day.

另一個原因是這裡比較安靜。

Lìng yí ge yuányīn shì zhèlǐ bǐjiào ānjìng.

Another reason is that it’s quieter here.

Traditional Chinese - Reasons

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase means “There are a few reasons”?

Which sentence best means “The reason I ask is that I want to confirm the time”?

Which sentence asks “What led to this problem?”

Which sentence means “I didn’t reply because I was in a meeting at the time”?

He said it rained hard that day. Is that why it was canceled?

I don’t want to discuss it today. One reason is that everyone is tired.

I thought tomorrow would be busy, so I went to sleep earlier.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice