Level 5 · Advanced
Formal cause and effect: 由于…因此
由于 + Cause，（因此）+ Effect · Traditional: 由於 + Cause，（因此）+ Effect
由于 (yóuyú) is the formal "due to" and 因此 (yīncǐ) the formal "therefore" — the register you meet in news reports, announcements, and essays: 由于天气不好，航班取消了 "due to bad weather, the flight was cancelled."
因此 can also stand alone after any stated cause. The main pairing rule: 由于 goes with 因此/所以, but 因为 only pairs with 所以 — 因为…因此 sounds mismatched, like a suit jacket over pajamas.
Examples
由于天气不好，航班取消了。
由於天氣不好，航班取消了。
yóu yú tiān qì bù hǎo háng bān qǔ xiāo le
Due to bad weather, the flight was cancelled.
由于人太多，我们决定改天再去。
由於人太多，我們決定改天再去。
yóu yú rén tài duō wǒ men jué dìng gǎi tiān zài qù
Since it was too crowded, we decided to go another day.
他平时很努力，因此进步很快。
他平時很努力，因此進步很快。
tā píng shí hěn nǔ lì yīn cǐ jìn bù hěn kuài
He works hard, and therefore improves quickly.
由于价格太高，因此买的人很少。
由於價格太高，因此買的人很少。
yóu yú jià gé tài gāo yīn cǐ mǎi de rén hěn shǎo
Because the price is so high, very few people buy it.
Common mistakes
✗ 因为价格太高，因此买的人很少。
✓ 由于价格太高，因此买的人很少。
因此 pairs with 由于 (or stands alone). The everyday pair is 因为…所以.
Related grammar points
See it in a story
Read this pattern in context: The Story of Flamin' Hot Cheetos — free graded stories with tap-to-reveal pinyin and translations.
