<p>所以 means 'because' but it can also be used as a noun for &quot;reason&quot; , as in &quot;不明所以&quot; (don't understand the reason)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>邓小平 is a noun,  之=(的),  所以=reason</p>
<p>邓小平(之)所以 = Deng Xiaoping('s) reason (for)</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p>推动改革开放 (promote reform and opening up) is the action that the reason resulted in.</p>
</li>
<li><p>一来是为了提高人民的生活水平，二来是为了让中国经济从计划经济转变到市场经济。 is the description of the reasons</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>'<a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/18291/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">之所以</a>' is a common phrase for '<strong>the reason why</strong>'; '<strong>therefore</strong>' because it is so commonly used in literary form.</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>&quot;(The reason why) he resigns&quot; = &quot;他(之所以)辭職&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;(The reason why) he ran away&quot; = &quot;他(之所以)逃跑&quot;</p>
<p><em>The two examples above must be followed by the description of the reason</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T20:10:00.290Z
Subject always precede 之所以 in Chinese; The opposite is true in English.他(之所以)辞职 = (The reason why) he resigns
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T19:05:38.317Z
2017-10-18T20:11:53.943Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>In structure 之所以……（结果:result）是因为……（原因: reason）, 之 is used as a conjunction, indicating 因果关系.  </p>

<p>Compare the two structures:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li><p>之所以……（结果: result）是因为……（原因: reason) </p></li>
  <li><p>因为……（原因: reason）所以……（结果: result）</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>Structure 1 states the result first, while structure 2 states reason first. There could be some literary effects for this: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>when there are more than one reason for the result, structure 1 is often used. This is like OP's example.</p></li>
<li><p>the context determines whether structure 1 or 2 should be used.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-20T13:34:32.727Z
2017-10-20T13:34:32.727Z
dan
<p>In the following sentence:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>三十年前，邓小平<strong>之</strong>所以推动改革开放，一来是为了提高人民的生活水平，二来是为了让中国经济从计划经济转变到市场经济。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I found that <a href="https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%82%93%E5%B0%8F%E5%B9%B3/116181" rel="nofollow noreferrer">邓小平</a> is a name for a person. But I don't understand what 之 works for here. So what is the meaning of it and how does it function here grammatically?</p>

<p>Also, is it required to use 之 here, or if you omit it, does the sentence change into a different meaning?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T17:59:59.987Z
（see dictionaries) 之所以  the reason why    之 III
(1) 的 [of]。＂the reason why DXP has promoted reform and openness to the outside world"
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T18:03:44.810Z
@user6065 Actually I don't understand most of your comments to my question... What is `III`, `(1)`, `的`, and `[of]`? At least I've found out now that 之所以 is an idiom here, which I didn't know.
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T18:05:07.160Z
@user6065 You obviously have the answer...Why you prefer comments than adding an answer.
Kevman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T18:10:26.253Z
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Stating_the_effect_before_the_cause
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T18:17:49.963Z
answering comment #2: ＂III (1) 的 [of]＂ is copied from bkrs' (dictionary)  entry for 之（small part of long entry)
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T18:49:41.850Z
@user6065 Could you take a step further and write it up as an answer? I could get you +25 rep (and BTW why do you always leave comments here but never answer...)?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T20:40:16.030Z
the most common use of 之 is as substitute for 的, often making it sound more official (in other cases it is obligatory), "III (1) 的 [of]" in bkrs means part III, subsection (1) of possible meanings of 之
user6065
<grammar><meaning-in-context><word>
What does 之 mean in 邓小平之所以推动改革开放...?
# What does 之 mean in 邓小平之所以推动改革开放...?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-18)

In the following sentence:

> 三十年前，邓小平**之**所以推动改革开放，一来是为了提高人民的生活水平，二来是为了让中国经济从计划经济转变到市场经济。

I found that [邓小平](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%82%93%E5%B0%8F%E5%B9%B3/116181) is a name for a person. But I don't understand what 之 works for here. So what is the meaning of it and how does it function here grammatically?

Also, is it required to use 之 here, or if you omit it, does the sentence change into a different meaning?

**Tags:** grammar, meaning-in-context, word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: （see dictionaries) 之所以  the reason why    之 III (1) 的 [of]。＂the reason why DXP has promoted reform and openness to the outside world"  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Actually I don't understand most of your comments to my question... What is `III`, `(1)`, `的`, and `[of]`? At least I've found out now that 之所以 is an idiom here, which I didn't know.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 You obviously have the answer...Why you prefer comments than adding an answer.  
> **username_3**: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Stating_the_effect_before_the_cause  
> **username_1**: answering comment #2: ＂III (1) 的 [of]＂ is copied from bkrs' (dictionary)  entry for 之（small part of long entry)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Could you take a step further and write it up as an answer? I could get you +25 rep (and BTW why do you always leave comments here but never answer...)?  
> **username_1**: the most common use of 之 is as substitute for 的, often making it sound more official (in other cases it is obligatory), "III (1) 的 [of]" in bkrs means part III, subsection (1) of possible meanings of 之  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-10-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

所以 means 'because' but it can also be used as a noun for "reason" , as in "不明所以" (don't understand the reason)

> 邓小平 is a noun, 之=(的), 所以=reason
>
> 邓小平(之)所以 = Deng Xiaoping('s) reason (for)

* 推动改革开放 (promote reform and opening up) is the action that the reason resulted in.
* 一来是为了提高人民的生活水平，二来是为了让中国经济从计划经济转变到市场经济。 is the description of the reasons

'[之所以](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/18291/)' is a common phrase for '**the reason why**'; '**therefore**' because it is so commonly used in literary form.

Example:

"(The reason why) he resigns" = "他(之所以)辭職"

"(The reason why) he ran away" = "他(之所以)逃跑"

*The two examples above must be followed by the description of the reason*

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Subject always precede 之所以 in Chinese; The opposite is true in English.他(之所以)辞职 = (The reason why) he resigns  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-10-20. Score: 1

In structure 之所以……（结果:result）是因为……（原因: reason）, 之 is used as a conjunction, indicating 因果关系.

Compare the two structures:

> 1. 之所以……（结果: result）是因为……（原因: reason)
> 2. 因为……（原因: reason）所以……（结果: result）

Structure 1 states the result first, while structure 2 states reason first. There could be some literary effects for this:

1. when there are more than one reason for the result, structure 1 is often used. This is like OP's example.
2. the context determines whether structure 1 or 2 should be used.


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