通过以上论述

You’ll find this phrase most comfortable at the start of a concluding paragraph. Think of it as a signal fire for your audience. You’ve just spent three pages talking about why a four-day work week is better for productivity. Now, you start your final section with 通过以上论述... followed by your ultimate conclusion. It’s also great for formal emails where you’ve listed several reasons for a request. You list the reasons, then use this phrase to lead into the 'therefore' part of your message. It works best when there has actually been a 'discussion' or 'argument' preceding it. If you haven't actually argued anything, it can sound a bit pompous. It’s like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ; you look great, but everyone is wondering why you’re so dressed up. Keep it for when you really want to sound authoritative and logical.

This phrase lives in the 'Very Formal' neighborhood. It’s the kind of language you’d hear in a TED talk, read in a PhD thesis, or see in a government report. You will almost never hear this at a dinner table or in a casual WeChat message to a friend. If you use it while ordering bubble tea, the cashier might think you’re performing a Shakespeare play. It belongs to the 'Written Language' (书面语 - shūmiàn yǔ) register. In professional settings, like a Zoom presentation to stakeholders or a formal project proposal, it’s a gold star phrase. It shows you have a high level of literacy and understand the conventions of Chinese logic. It’s sophisticated, cold, and efficient. It doesn't care about your feelings; it cares about the structure of your argument. Using it correctly instantly levels up your 'professional persona' in Chinese-speaking environments.

Imagine you are writing a concluding summary for a University essay on environmental policy. You’ve analyzed data, quoted experts, and compared different laws. You start the final paragraph: 通过以上论述，我们可以得出结论... (Through the above discussion, we can draw the conclusion...). It fits perfectly. Or, picture a high-stakes business negotiation. After listing the market trends and your company's strengths, you say, 通过以上论述，我方认为此项合作将实现双赢 (Based on the discourse above, our side believes this cooperation will achieve a win-win). It sounds decisive and well-reasoned. You might also see it in the captions of a very serious, long-form LinkedIn post where someone is analyzing industry changes. It’s the 'serious business' flag. Even in a debate competition, this is the bread and butter of the concluding speaker. It’s everywhere that logic and formality meet.

Use it when you are concluding a formal piece of writing, such as an essay, a report, or a business proposal. It’s perfect for the 'Conclusion' section of a PowerPoint presentation. If you are writing a letter of recommendation and have just listed the candidate’s virtues, use it to wrap up. It’s also useful in legal contexts or formal letters of complaint where you need to show that your demand is based on the points you just made. Think of it as a 'therefore' with extra gravitas. It’s great for when you need to sound like the smartest person in the room without actually saying "I'm smart." Use it to show that you are a serious professional who respects the structure of formal communication. It’s also a lifesaver in the HSK 5 or 6 writing exams where structural transitions are worth big points.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, don't use this with your friends. If you tell your roommate, "通过以上论述，你应该去洗碗" (Through the above discussion, you should do the dishes), they will either laugh at you or think you’ve lost your mind. It’s too heavy for daily life. Also, avoid it if you haven't actually provided any arguments. If you just say "I'm hungry" and then 通过以上论述..., you’re making a logical jump that doesn't exist. Don't use it in casual social media comments or quick text messages. It’s like using a chainsaw to cut a piece of cake—it’s the wrong tool for the job. Also, if you’re aiming for a friendly, warm, and fuzzy vibe, stay away. This phrase is about logic and distance, not warmth and friendship.

The most common mistake is using it in speech when a simpler transition like 所以 (suǒyǐ - so) or 总之 (zǒngzhī - in short) would suffice. Another classic is forgetting that 论述 implies a detailed explanation. ✗ 我饿了，通过以上论述，我们要吃饭。 (I'm hungry, through the above discussion, we need to eat.) -> ✓ 既然大家都饿了，那我们就去吃饭吧。 (Since everyone is hungry, let's go eat.) Another mistake is mixing registers, like using slang right after this formal phrase. It creates a linguistic whiplash that makes you sound like a glitching AI. ✗ 通过以上论述，这事儿太给力了。 (Through the above discussion, this thing is super awesome.) -> ✓ 通过以上论述，我们可以看到该方案的显著优势。 (Through the above discussion, we can see the significant advantages of this plan.)

If 通过以上论述 feels a bit too long, you can use 综上所述 (zòng shàng suǒ shù), which means 'to summarize what has been said above.' It’s equally formal but a bit more concise. For something slightly less academic but still professional, try 根据上述分析 (gēnjù shàngshù fēnxī - based on the above analysis). If you are in a slightly more relaxed business setting, 基于以上几点 (jīyú yǐshàng jǐ diǎn - based on the above points) works wonders. It’s like the business-casual version of our main phrase. If you want to be super brief, you can just use 总之 (zǒngzhī - in short), but you’ll lose that 'expert' feel. There’s also 由上可见 (yóu shàng kě jiàn - as can be seen from the above), which is very common in charts and data reports.

Is it okay to use this in a job interview? Yes, especially when you are summarizing why you are the best fit for the role after giving several examples of your experience. Does it sound like I'm a robot? Only if you use it in the wrong context, like talking about your weekend plans. Is 综上所述 better? Not necessarily; 通过以上论述 emphasizes the process of argumentation more than just the summary. Can I use it in a tweet? Only if you're being ironic or writing a very serious thread. Does it work for both writing and speaking? It's primarily for writing, but it's great for formal presentations too. If you're looking to impress a professor or a boss with your structural clarity, this is your secret weapon. Just remember to keep the '論述' (arguments) solid first!