Meaning
于是乎 is a literary or semi-formal conjunction meaning 'thereupon' or 'and so.' It connects clauses to show a natural consequence or result of what was just mentioned. It's more emphatic and formal than the simpler 于是, adding a classical flavor to speech or writing.
Usage
This expression appears more often in written Chinese, storytelling, or when someone wants to sound deliberate or slightly old-fashioned. It's less common in everyday casual conversation, where 于是 or 所以 would be more natural. Native speakers use it to mark a turning point or culmination in a narrative.
Examples
- 01他等了很久都没人来，于是乎决定自己先走了。, .He waited a long time and nobody came, so he decided to leave by himself.
- 02大家都同意这个方案，于是乎会议就这样结束了。', .Everyone agreed with the proposal, and so the meeting ended just like that.
Characters
Origin
于是乎 combines the classical conjunction 于是 ('thereupon') with the literary particle 乎, which adds emphasis or a rhetorical tone from Classical Chinese. This construction preserves an archaic, literary flavor in modern usage.