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Connecting Clauses and Sentences in HSK 5: 从而, 可见, 假如, and 总之
This lesson explains four HSK 5 conjunctions used to link clauses or full sentences: 从而 for resulting actions, 可见 for evidence-based deductions, 假如 for hypothetical conditions, and 总之 for overall summaries.
公司改进了工作流程，从而提高了生产效率。
Correct: 从而 links a deliberate method or action directly to the resulting verb phrase.
Read the full explanation and examples
How Clause and Sentence Conjunctions Work at Level 5
In the Level 5 grammar outline, the conjunctions 从而, 可见, 假如, and 总之 are grouped under words that connect clauses or whole sentences. While basic Chinese conjunctions handle simple everyday links, these four words help organize more structured explanations, arguments, and plans.
- 从而 introduces a further action or outcome achieved through a prior step.
- 可见 draws a visible conclusion or deduction from an observed fact.
- 假如 sets up a hypothetical assumption or condition.
- 总之 pulls earlier details together into a final summary statement.
1. Expressing Resulting Actions with 从而
从而 means thus, thereby, or consequently. It appears in the second clause to show that a prior action, method, or change leads naturally to a further result or accomplishment. It is noticeably formal and is most common in written Chinese or structured speech.
A common model puts a resulting verb phrase after 从而, as in 从而提高了生产效率. This is not a universal ban on an explicit subject: written explanations also use 从而我们可以……. Read whether the following clause develops a consequence of the preceding process; do not judge it from the noun or pronoun alone.
公司改进了工作流程，从而提高了生产效率。
Correct: 从而 links a deliberate method or action directly to the resulting verb phrase.
For an everyday decision about going for a walk, 所以 is the straightforward connective. A cause-first sentence with 由于 is another natural way to give the reason. The next pair presents these two alternatives; it is not a demonstration that every 从而 sentence with a subject is ungrammatical.
由于外面下大雨，我们不出去散步了。
由于 places the reason first. The next sentence presents the same everyday causal relationship with 所以.
外面下大雨了，所以我们不出去散步了。
所以 explicitly links the rain with the decision not to go out. It is a natural alternative to the cause-first sentence.
2. Drawing Evidence-Based Conclusions with 可见
可见 literally relates to what can be seen, and as a conjunction it means it is evident that, thus we can see, or clearly. You use it after stating a concrete piece of evidence or an observable situation to introduce your logical deduction.
从而 develops a consequence of the preceding action or process; 可见 introduces a judgment inferred from evidence. This is a useful distinction in the examples. A consequence may be intended or hypothetical rather than already achieved, and a discussion can present results of reasoning as well as physical events.
他连这个问题都能迅速解决，可见经验非常丰富。
Correct: 可见 introduces a logical deduction based on the evidence in the first clause.
3. Setting Hypothetical Conditions with 假如
假如 means if or supposing that. It introduces a conditional clause, placing slightly more emphasis on the hypothetical or assumed nature of the situation than the everyday word 如果, though the two are interchangeable in many contexts.
In the main result clause that follows, speakers very frequently pair 假如 with adverbs such as 就 (then) or 那么 (in that case) to make the link between condition and consequence explicit. Just like 如果, 假如 can stand before the subject of the first clause or immediately after it, and the condition clause can optionally close with 的话.
假如明天天晴，我们就去郊外爬山。
Correct: 假如 sets up the hypothetical condition and pairs smoothly with 就 in the main clause.
4. Summarizing Points with 总之
总之 means in short, in a word, or all in all. It signals that you are stepping back from multiple details, reasons, or possibilities to state the essential takeaway or final decision.
Unlike 从而 and 可见, which depend on a specific logical step (means-to-result or evidence-to-deduction), 总之 compresses whatever was said before into a brief bottom line. It is usually set off by a comma when starting a final clause or sentence.
这个计划能节省时间，也能减少开支。总之，值得一试。
总之 draws together the two advantages, saving time and reducing expenses, into one overall recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
How is 从而 different from 所以?
所以 is a general “so/therefore” connective. 从而 often develops a further consequence of a preceding process in a more written style. The common 从而 + verb-phrase model is useful, but an explicit subject after 从而 is not by itself an error. Check the causal link and the flow of the whole passage.
Can I swap 可见 and 从而 when talking about results?
Not automatically. In the examples, 从而 develops an outcome of a process, while 可见 presents the speaker’s inference from evidence. Decide what relationship the sentence is expressing; do not choose solely because both English translations may contain “therefore.”
Does 假如 always have to be the very first word in the sentence?
It usually comes at the start of the conditional clause, either before or right after the subject of that clause, while the main result clause follows with words like 就 or 那么.
