Kilo Lingo
Mandarin grammar Part of Chapter 23

CEFR B1-B2

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Test yourself (15 questions)

Mandarin 所 (suǒ): 所有, 所谓, 所 + Verb and 为...所

By Michael McGettrick and Wee Khang LinUpdated 12 October 2026

(suǒ) is a leftover from classical Chinese that makes Mandarin sound written. Put it before the verb of a (de) phrase and only the register changes: (wǒ zhīdào de) and (wǒ suǒ zhīdào de) both mean "what I know". The same hides in (suǒyǒu), (suǒyǐ) and (suǒwèi), and makes a formal passive.

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Pick the member of the 所 family that fits.

  1. 的学生都到了。 (All the students have arrived.)

    ___ de xué shēng dōu dào le 。 (All the students have arrived.)

  2. 他病了，没来上班。 (He was ill, so he didn't come to work.)

    tā bìng le ，___ méi lái shàng bān 。 (He was ill, so he didn't come to work.)

  3. 我知道的都告诉你了。 (I've told you everything I know.)

    wǒ ___ zhī dào de dōu gào su nǐ le 。 (I've told you everything I know.)

The whole system on one screen

The colours stay the same all page long:

所 suǒ为 wéi + the doerWhat do the colours mean?
HanziPinyinEnglish
。Wǒ zhīdào de bù duō.I don't know much (plain)
。Wǒ suǒ zhīdào de bù duō.What I know is not much (formal)
。Suǒyǒu de xuésheng dōu lái le.All the students came
为wèi。Zhè běn shū wéi hěn duō rén suǒ xǐhuan.This book is loved by many people
ChattingEssays and news
  1. 我知道的 wǒ zhīdào de: everyday
  2. 我所知道的 wǒ suǒ zhīdào de: written, formal speeches

(suǒ) belongs to essays, reports, news and speeches. Chatting with a friend, leave it out.

所 (suǒ) + verb: what the verb acts on

所 suǒWhat do the colours mean?

Put (suǒ) between the doer and the verb of a (de) phrase. The phrase names what the verb acts on, and still closes it:

HanziPinyinEnglish
wǒ suǒ zhīdào dewhat I know
tā suǒ shuō de huàthe words he said
。Zhè shì wǒ suǒ xūyào de.This is what I need
wǒmen suǒ zuò de yíqièeverything we do

Take (suǒ) out and each phrase means the same, only plainer: (tā shuō de huà). That plain clause is on relative clauses with 的.

The rules: an empty object slot, and 的 (de)

所 suǒWhat do the colours mean?

(suǒ) points at the verb's object, so the object cannot also sit after the verb. Move it out, or leave it unsaid:

HanziPinyinEnglish
wǒ suǒ zhīdào de shìthe things I know
wǒ suǒ qù de dìfangthe places I went
wǒ suǒ zhù de dìfangthe place where I live

So the verb needs something to act on: a thing, or a place, as with (qù) and (zhù). And (de) stays: (wǒ suǒ zhīdào) on its own is not a phrase. Set phrases are the exception, such as 据 (jù wǒ suǒ zhī), as far as I know.

所 (suǒ) inside everyday words

所 suǒWhat do the colours mean?

Three everyday words carry the same (suǒ), fused in so long ago that nobody hears it:

HanziPinyinEnglish
。Suǒyǒu de xuésheng dōu lái le.All the students came
，。Tā bìng le, suǒyǐ méi lái.He was ill, so he didn't come
。Suǒwèi de hǎo xiāoxi qíshí shì huài xiāoxi.The so-called good news is bad news

(suǒyǒu), all, usually brings (dōu) before the verb. (suǒwèi), so-called, can introduce a term neutrally or raise an eyebrow, as in English: (tā nàxiē suǒwèi de péngyou), those so-called friends of his.

之所以 (zhī suǒyǐ): the reason why

所 suǒWhat do the colours mean?

Written Chinese can put the result first and the reason second with …… (zhī suǒyǐ… shì yīnwèi…):

  • ，。 (Tā zhī suǒyǐ méi lái, shì yīnwèi tā bìng le.) - The reason he didn't come is that he was ill.
  • ，。 (Yīnwèi tā bìng le, suǒyǐ tā méi lái.) - He was ill, so he didn't come.

The second is the everyday version; the first belongs in an essay.

The formal passive: 为 (wéi)…所 (suǒ)

所 suǒ为 wéi + the doerWhat do the colours mean?

Receiver + 为 (wéi) + doer + (suǒ) + verb is a formal written passive. 为 is second tone here, not the wèi of (wèile):

Receiver
为 + doer
所
Verb
为wèi
为wèi
为wèi
HanziPinyinEnglish
为wèi。Zhè běn shū wéi hěn duō rén suǒ xǐhuan.This book is loved by many people
为wèi。Zhège xiǎngfǎ wéi dàjiā suǒ jiēshòu.This idea is accepted by everyone
为wèi。Zhè jiàn shì bù wéi rén suǒ zhī.This matter is little known

The doer cannot drop: when it is nobody in particular, use (rén), as in the last row. Negation goes before 为 (wéi). In speech, say it actively: 。 (Hěn duō rén xǐhuan zhè běn shū.)

You will also read … (bèi… suǒ), a mix of the two: 。 (Tā bèi zhè běn shū suǒ gǎndòng.), he was moved by this book.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
the object cannot follow the verb
。。 (suǒ) + verb still needs (de)
为wèi。为wèi。为wèi… (wéi… suǒ) needs a doer
。。"all" is (suǒyǒu)

What to do next

  1. Do the drill below.
  2. Take three sentences you would say with (de) and write them for an essay with (suǒ).
  3. Then read the suffix 者 (zhě): names what is done, names who does it.

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/6

Plain, or formal and written?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Pick the right one

0/4

Pick the member of the 所 family that fits.

  1. 的学生都到了。 (All the students have arrived.)

    ___ de xué shēng dōu dào le 。 (All the students have arrived.)

  2. 他病了，没来上班。 (He was ill, so he didn't come to work.)

    tā bìng le ，___ méi lái shàng bān 。 (He was ill, so he didn't come to work.)

  3. 我知道的都告诉你了。 (I've told you everything I know.)

    wǒ ___ zhī dào de dōu gào su nǐ le 。 (I've told you everything I know.)

  4. 他那些的朋友一个也没来。 (Not one of his so-called friends came.)

    tā nà xiē ___ de péng you yí gè yě méi lái 。 (Not one of his so-called friends came.)

Put the words in order

0/2

Put the words in order: the formal passive.

  1. This book is loved by many people.

    Your sentence is empty.

  2. This matter is little known.

    Your sentence is empty.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

  1. suǒ yǐ de xué shēng dōu lái le 。

  2. tā bìng le ， suǒ yǒu méi lái 。

  3. zhè ge xiǎng fǎ suǒ dà jiā wèi jiē shòu 。

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Frequently asked questions

What does (suǒ) mean in ?
Nothing you can translate. + verb names the thing the verb acts on, and it is optional: (wǒ suǒ zhīdào de) and (wǒ zhīdào de) both mean 'what I know'. makes it sound written and formal.
Should I use (suǒ) when speaking?
Rarely. It belongs to essays, news, speeches and other prepared language. Chatting with a friend, say (wǒ zhīdào de). Fixed words such as (suǒyǒu) and (suǒyǐ) are everyday speech, of course.
What does (suǒwèi) mean?
'So-called', or 'what is called'. It can be neutral, introducing a term, or sceptical, as in English: (tā nàxiē suǒwèi de péngyou), those so-called friends of his.
What is the 为… (wéi… suǒ) passive?
A formal written passive: receiver + 为 (wéi) + doer + (suǒ) + verb. 为 (zhège xiǎngfǎ wéi dàjiā suǒ jiēshòu), this idea is accepted by everyone. 为 is second tone here. Speech uses (bèi) or an active sentence instead.
What does (zhī suǒyǐ) mean?
'The reason why'. …… puts the result first and the cause second: ， (tā zhī suǒyǐ méi lái, shì yīnwèi tā bìng le), the reason he didn't come is that he was ill. It is written register.