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Cause and Result with （因）……，故……
Use （因）……，故…… to present a reason and then its consequence. The pattern has a formal, often written tone, and makes the logical link explicit.
因设备临时故障，故研讨会推迟到下周举行。
Cause: the equipment failure. Result: postponing the workshop.
Read the full explanation and examples
Meaning and use
This pattern means “because …, therefore …” or, more naturally in many English sentences, “because …, ….” The first clause gives the cause; the second gives a consequence that follows from it. The cause should explain or motivate the result, rather than simply occur at the same time. The outline lists this as the cause-result pattern （因）……，故…… for the 7–9 level. That identifies syllabus scope and level; it does not establish which exam version is currently administered at any test centre.
因 introduces the reason, while 故 introduces the consequence. Together they make the relationship clear and give the sentence a formal, reasoned tone. You are likely to meet this wording in reports, notices, explanations, and carefully organized argument. In everyday conversation, speakers often choose a less formal way to say “because,” so use this pattern when its written or formal register suits the situation.
Build the sentence
Put the reason after 因 and the consequence after 故. The reason can be a phrase, as in 因时间关系 (“because of time constraints”), or a clause. The result states the consequence or decision; subjects may differ or be omitted when clear. A comma commonly separates the parts. 因 is optional in the listed frame: 数据尚未核实，故报告暂不对外发布 directly states the reason first, then uses 故 for the result.
- Choose a cause that directly explains the stated result.
- Make the result specific enough for the reader to see the connection.
- Use 故 before the consequence, not before the reason.
- Prefer 因……，故…… when you want an explicit, formal link; do not use it merely to join unrelated observations.
Examples in context
因设备临时故障，故研讨会推迟到下周举行。
Cause: the equipment failure. Result: postponing the workshop.
因调查对象的构成发生变化，故研究团队重新调整了抽样方案。
The change in the surveyed population is the reason for revising the plan.
因合同条款仍有几处表述不清，故双方暂未签字。
故 marks the result; English can express the connection without translating it as a separate “therefore.”
因山路夜间照明不足，故管理部门决定天黑后暂时封闭该路段。
The stated safety condition motivates the management decision.
A useful contrast
Compare an explicit cause-result sentence with two facts that happen to appear together. Saying that a report is delayed because its data have not been checked explains the delay. Saying that the data are unchecked and the office is quiet does not, by itself, establish a cause-result relation. In the latter case, adding 故 would suggest a logical link the context may not support. The choice is about meaning and context, not about treating a different sentence as ungrammatical.
数据尚未核实，故报告暂不对外发布。
This version omits 因. The reason is still stated first, and 故 explicitly introduces the result.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave out 因?
Yes. The outline writes （因）……，故……, with 因 in parentheses. You may omit it when the cause is still clear, but keep the reason before the result introduced by 故.
Is this the usual choice in casual conversation?
It is more formal and often more at home in writing than in casual speech. Choose it when you want a clear, formal cause-result connection.
Can this pattern form a question?
The listed pattern presents a cause and a result; it is not itself a question form. A speaker can ask about either clause by adding a question appropriate to the situation, but that use is outside this outline point.
