于是: Prompted Next Event in Chinese
于是
于是 connects two clauses in a narrative: the first event creates the circumstances that prompt the second event, which then follows. It is stronger than neutral 然后 because it includes a consequence relation, but less suited than 所以 for an abstract logical conclusion. It normally introduces the second clause.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Triggering event, 于是 + Resulting event
Read the structure
于是 connects two clauses in a narrative: the first event creates the circumstances that prompt the second event, which then follows. It is stronger than neutral 然后 because it includes a consequence relation, but less suited than 所以 for an abstract logical conclusion. It normally introduces the second clause. Keep the model Triggering event, 于是 + Resulting event visible while you compare each sentence.
雨停了，于是人们收起了雨伞。
The rain stopped, so people put away their umbrellas.
Choose the right context
Narrate an action prompted by a preceding event. Show both consequence and immediate sequence. Introduce the second event, often with 就 or 了.
他不喜欢这份工作，于是离开了公司。
He disliked the job, so he left the company.
Respect the boundary
Do not put the resulting event before its trigger. Do not use 于是 for two unrelated sequential events. Do not place 于是 at the end of the result clause.
雨停了，人们收起了雨伞于是。
(The rain stopped; people put away umbrellas, so.)
Repair the pattern
于是 follows the result clause: 于是 introduces the resulting clause and cannot function sentence-finally. The consequence is presented before its trigger: The prompting circumstance must precede 于是; its resulting event follows.
雨停了，于是人们收起了雨伞。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
雨停了，于是人们收起了雨伞。
The rain stopped, so people put away their umbrellas.
雨
Triggering event, 于是
This part occupies the Triggering event, 于是 position in the model pattern.
停了
Resulting event
This part occupies the Resulting event position in the model pattern.
，
Triggering event, 于是
This part occupies the Triggering event, 于是 position in the model pattern.
于是
Resulting event
This part occupies the Resulting event position in the model pattern.
人们
Triggering event, 于是
This part occupies the Triggering event, 于是 position in the model pattern.
收起
Resulting event
This part occupies the Resulting event position in the model pattern.
了
Triggering event, 于是
This part occupies the Triggering event, 于是 position in the model pattern.
雨伞
Resulting event
This part occupies the Resulting event position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
雨停了，于是人们收起了雨伞。
The rain stopped, so people put away their umbrellas.
他不喜欢这份工作，于是离开了公司。
He disliked the job, so he left the company.
书店还开着，于是我们进去看看。
The bookstore was still open, so we went in to look.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Narrate an action prompted by a preceding event.
- Show both consequence and immediate sequence.
- Introduce the second event, often with 就 or 了.
Do not use it when
- Do not put the resulting event before its trigger.
- Do not use 于是 for two unrelated sequential events.
- Do not place 于是 at the end of the result clause.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
雨停了，人们收起了雨伞于是。
雨停了，于是人们收起了雨伞。
于是 follows the result clause
于是 introduces the resulting clause and cannot function sentence-finally.
于是他离开了公司，他不喜欢这份工作。
他不喜欢这份工作，于是离开了公司。
The consequence is presented before its trigger
The prompting circumstance must precede 于是; its resulting event follows.
雨停了，人们收起了雨伞于是。
于是 introduces the resulting clause and cannot function sentence-finally.
于是他离开了公司，他不喜欢这份工作。
The prompting circumstance must precede 于是; its resulting event follows.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 于是.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 于是. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
于是: Prompted Next Event Questions
How is 于是 different from 然后?
然后 mainly marks sequence; 于是 says the first event prompted the next one.
Can 于是 be followed by 就?
Yes. 于是就 is common when the consequence follows promptly.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 4 item 【四46】, ……，于是…… (printed p. 212)
Supports placement in HSK 4; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 44, §44.3, expressions introducing a result; Chapter 42, narrative sequence
Treats 于是 as introducing an event that follows from and is prompted by the preceding situation.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
……，因而……因而: Introducing a Formal Result
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因……而……因…而…: Formal Cause Framing
Compare this lesson with 因……而…… linking a cause directly to its result; both belong to cause, consequence, and discourse result, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
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这样一来这样一来: With This Result
Compare this lesson with 这样一来 summarizing the consequence of a situation; both belong to cause, consequence, and discourse result, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
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因为…所以因为...所以 (Because... So)
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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