therefore

Compared meaning: as a result, so (connecting adverb).

比较义项：表示结果或结论的连接副词“因此”（副词）。

• thus

  Thus is formal and literary, often introducing a resulting action, and can directly precede an -ing verb ("thus doubling"), a pattern therefore and hence rarely use in the same way.

  thus 语气正式、偏书面语，常用来引出一个结果性动作，并能直接接现在分词（如 "thus doubling"，因此使……翻倍），这种用法 therefore 和 hence 很少以同样方式使用。

  The factory automated its production line, thus doubling output within a year.

  这家工厂实现了生产线自动化，因此在一年内使产量翻了一倍。

• therefore 本词

  Therefore is the most neutral and common of the three, natural in both formal writing and everyday speech, and always introduces a full clause with its own subject and verb.

  therefore 是三者中最中性、最常用的一个，正式写作和日常口语中都很自然，并且总是引出一个带有主语和谓语的完整分句。

  The flight was overbooked; therefore, several passengers were asked to volunteer.

  这趟航班超额订票了；因此，几名乘客被要求自愿放弃座位。

• hence

  Hence is the most formal and somewhat old-fashioned of the three, and often drops the verb entirely, linking straight to a noun phrase ("hence the delay") rather than a full clause.

  hence 是三者中最正式、略显古旧的一个，常常完全省略动词，直接连接一个名词短语（如 "hence the delay"，因此才有了这次延误），而不是完整的分句。

  The venue flooded overnight, hence the sudden change of location.

  场地一夜之间被水淹了，因此才临时更换了场地。

All three mean 'as a result'. Thus is formal and literary. Therefore is the most neutral, common in formal and casual English. Hence is formal and old-fashioned; it often drops the verb, linking to a noun. Thus can mean 'in this way'; not compared here.

这三个词表示“因此”时意思相近，都用来引出结果或结论，但正式程度和搭配习惯不同：thus 和 hence 更正式、更偏书面语，therefore 是三者中最中性、口语书面都常用的一个；hence 还常常省略动词，直接接名词短语。此处不比较 thus 表示“这样地”（方式）的另一层含义。

Compared meaning: as a result, so (connecting adverb).

比较义项：所以，因此（副词，引出结果）。

• therefore 本词

  The most general, all-purpose connector for a conclusion; used in formal and everyday writing or speech alike, often linking evidence or reasoning to a decision or judgment.

  用途最广、最通用的“所以”，正式和日常场合都可以用，常用于由证据或情况推出结论、判断或决定。

  Not all the reports had arrived on time; therefore, the meeting was postponed.

  并非所有报告都按时送到，因此会议被推迟了。

• consequently

  Slightly more formal and literary; stresses that something happened as the direct, almost automatic result of an earlier event, common in narrative or explanatory writing.

  语气略更正式、书面化，强调某事是前面事件几乎自然而然导致的直接后果，常见于叙述性或说明性文章。

  The workers went on strike; consequently, deliveries were delayed for two weeks.

  工人们举行了罢工，结果送货被延误了两个星期。

Both mean 'as a result', linking a cause and its effect, in formal writing. Therefore is the more general word, linking evidence or reasoning to a conclusion. Consequently is more formal and literary, stressing that something is the direct, automatic result of an earlier event.

这两个词都用来连接原因和结果，语气偏正式，常见于书面语；therefore 通用性更强，多用于由证据、情况得出结论或决定，逻辑推理色彩更浓；consequently 更强调某事是前一事件自然导致的直接后果，叙述色彩更强。二者在本义项上意思很接近，学习者容易混用。