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一位姓刘的听众想知道副词 “so、thus、therefore” 和 “hence” 的区别。它们的汉语意思都是 “因此，所以”，“therefore” 和 “hence” 为正式用词，而 “so” 和 “thus” 在日常口语和写作中使用的频率更高。听节目，学习它们的用法。

欢迎你加入并和我们一起讨论英语学习的方方面面。请通过微博 “BBC英语教学” 或邮件与我们取得联系。我们的邮箱地址是 questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

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（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Jiaying
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “你问我答” 节目。I'm Jiaying.

Sam
And I'm Sam. Welcome!

Jiaying
本期节目要回答的问题如下：

Question
你好。“So、thus、therefore” 和 “hence” 的区别我不是很明白，可以讲解一下么？

Sam
Let's start with what these words have in common. 'So', 'thus', 'therefore' and 'hence' are all adverbs and are all used to give the reason for something happening or the result of something.

Jiaying
这四个词翻译成汉语都是 “所以，因此”，用来连接事情的原因和结果，但用法不同。第一个区别是正式程度不同：“so” 的正式程度居中，可用在任何语境中，使用频率最高。相比之下，“therefore” 稍微正式一点，但还是很常用。“Thus” 和 “hence” 是四个词中最正式的，使用频率没有其它两个词那么高。

Sam
Now let's take a closer look at how each of them is used, starting with 'so'. Remember that 'so' can have different meanings, but in this programme we are only talking about when it gives a reason for something happening.

Jiaying
Yes! “So” 在用来说明事情发生的原因时，意思是 “所以，因此”，在句子中用来连接事情发生的因果。

Sam
Let's hear some examples now. As you listen, try to notice the position of 'so' in the sentences.

Examples
We were hungry, so we got a snack.
（我们饿了，所以吃了零食。）

His knee started hurting during the tennis match, so he stopped playing.
（在网球比赛期间，他的膝盖开始疼，因此他停止了比赛。）

I was worried about my sister, so I called her.
（我当时很担心我妹妹，所以我给她打了电话。）

Jiaying
注意，在上面的例句中，“so” 位于句中，用来连接事情的因果。

Sam
Let's look at 'thus' now. 'Thus' can replace 'so' in many sentences, but remember the difference in formality. Because it's more formal, 'thus' is used more in writing and would be considered strange in a casual conversation.

Jiaying
没错，“thus” 的意思是 “因而，从而”，它比 “so” 更正式。Sam，“thus” 应该放在句子中的什么位置呢？

Sam
Good question! Again, like 'so', we use 'thus' to introduce the result. It can come after 'and' or simply after a comma.

Jiaying
原来 “thus” 和 “so” 一样，也可以放在起到承上启下作用的单词 “and” 后面，或者前半句话的逗号后面，引出事情的结果。听三个例句，你可能会在报刊文章或学术论文中看到这样的句子。

Examples
The company has announced that it plans to improve sales and thus to increase profits in the coming year.
（该公司已宣布计划改善其销售状况，从而在来年增加利润。）

There is evidence that a shorter working week means people are better rested and thus more productive.
（有证据表明，缩短工作周意味着人们能休息得更好，从而提高工作效率。）

The artist used mostly dark colours, thus reflecting the country's difficult history.
（这位艺术家在画作中大多使用了深色，从而反映了这个国家艰难的历史。）

Jiaying
接着，来说一说 “therefore”，它的意思也是 “因此，所以”。

Sam
With 'therefore', we have more flexibility about where it can go in a sentence. Here are some examples to show this.

Examples
He's scared of flying. Therefore he doesn't travel much by plane.
He's scared of flying, and therefore doesn't travel much by plane.
He's scared of flying. He therefore doesn't travel much by plane.
He's scared of flying. He doesn't, therefore, travel much by plane.
（他害怕坐飞机，因此他不常乘飞机旅行。）

Jiaying
这四个例句的含义完全相同，我们只是改变了 “therefore” 在句中的位置和一些标点符号。可以看出，“therefore” 在句中的位置相对灵活。

Sam
Exactly! Let's look at 'hence' next. Like the other words we've looked at, 'hence' is used when giving a reason or explanation for something, but it has a more fixed position in a sentence.

Jiaying
在节目开始我们说到，副词 “hence” 很正式。它的意思是 “因此，由此”，用来解释说明一件事情发生的原因。它在句子中的位置更加固定，放在句中前半句话结尾的逗号或破折号后，“hence” 后面接名词或名词短语。听三个例句。

Examples
His father is Spanish, hence his name – Juan.
（他的父亲是西班牙人，所以他叫胡安。）

Many celebrities are attending the festival – hence the extra security.
（有很多名人都要参加这场节庆活动，所以才会有额外的安保措施。）

It was her birthday last week, hence the new shoes.
（上周是她的生日，所以买了双新鞋。）

Jiaying
好了，希望我们的讲解帮助大家加深了对副词 “so、thus、therefore” 和 “hence” 的理解。在使用这些词的时候，区别它们的一个方法是记清楚每个词的正式程度，以及该词在句中的位置。

Sam
And remember if you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us too! Our email address is: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

Jiaying
你也可以通过微博向我们提问。我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。谢谢收听 “你问我答” 节目。我是佳莹。再会！

Sam
Until next time, bye-bye.