9.7 The Conjunctions 因為 jan1 wai6 (‘because’) and 所以 so2 ji5 (‘so’)
The conjunctions 因為 jan1 wai6 and 所以 so2 ji5 mean ‘because’ and ‘so’ respectively. We can use them to connect two clauses and express a causal relationship. We put a reason after 因為 jan1 wai6 and the result after 所以 so2 ji5.
We sometimes omit either 因為 jan1 wai6 or 所以 so2 ji5.
我喺香港住過，所以我識少少廣東話。
ngo5 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 zyu6 gwo3, so2 ji5 ngo5 sik1 siu2 siu2 gwong2 dung1 waa2.
I lived in Hong Kong before so I know a little bit Cantonese.
因為我喺香港住過，我識少少廣東話。
jan1 wai6 ngo5 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 zyu6 gwo3, ngo5 sik1 siu2 siu2 gwong2 dung1 waa2.
Since I lived in Hong Kong before, I know a little bit Cantonese.
We can also move the clause that begins with 因為 jan1 wai6 to the back. When doing so, we will omit 所以 so2 ji5.
我識少少廣東話，因為我喺香港住過。
ngo5 sik1 siu2 siu2 gwong2 dung1 waa2, jan1 wai6 ngo5 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 zyu6 gwo3.
I know a little bit Cantonese because I lived in Hong Kong before.
We can also say the clause that begins with 因為 jan1 wai6 alone.
| A: | 你點解識廣東話嘅？ nei5 dim2 gaai2 sik1 gwong2 dung1 waa2 ge3? Why do you know Cantonese? |
| B: | 因為我喺香港住過。 jan1 wai6 ngo5 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 zyu6 gwo3. Because I lived in Hong Kong before. |