因 meaning and stroke order
Cause; reason; because
How to write 因, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 因
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- cause
- reason
- because
- old variant of 因[yin1]
How 因 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 囗 (enclosure), shared by 39 characters on this site.
How to remember 因
因 is a big person 大 (dà) standing inside an enclosure 囗. Picture someone stuck in a box and ask why they are there: there must be a cause, a reason.
因 rarely stands alone in speech. It mostly appears in words like 因为 (yīnwèi, because), 原因 (yuányīn, reason) and 因此 (yīncǐ, so). Example: 因为下雨，我没去。(Yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒ méi qù.) Because it rained, I didn't go.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 因 with 困 (kùn, sleepy, trapped), which has 木 inside instead of 大. Also, 因为 is usually said yīnwèi with a fourth tone on 为, not wéi.
Common words with 因
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because; owing to; on account of | HSK 2 |
| 原因 | yuányīn | cause; origin | HSK 2 |
| 因此 | yīncǐ | thus; consequently; as a result | HSK 3 |
| 因而 | yīn'ér | therefore; as a result | HSK 5 |
| 因素 | yīnsù | element; factor | HSK 6 |
| 基因 | jīyīn | gene (loanword) | HSK 7-9 |
| 因人而异 | yīnrén'éryì | varying from person to person (idiom); different for each individual | HSK 7-9 |
| 可卡因 | kěkǎyīn | cocaine (loanword) | |
| 死因 | sǐyīn | cause of death | |
| 海洛因 | hǎiluòyīn | (loanword) heroin | |
| 咖啡因 | kāfēiyīn | caffeine (loanword) | |
| 起因 | qǐyīn | cause; a factor (leading to an effect) | |
| 因果 | yīnguǒ | karma; cause and effect | |
| 转基因 | zhuǎnjīyīn | genetic modification |
因 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 因
Learning 因 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 因
How many strokes are in 因?
因 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 因 mean?
因 (yīn) means cause; reason; because. A common word with it is 因为 (yīnwèi), meaning "because; owing to; on account of".
How do you pronounce 因?
因 is pronounced yīn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 因?
The radical of 因 is 囗, which carries the idea of "enclosure". Dictionaries list 因 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 因?
The traditional form of 因 is 囙. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 因 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 因 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 因 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 因此 and 所以?
Both mean so or therefore. 所以 is common in everyday speech and often pairs with 因为. 因此 sounds more formal and is used more in writing.
Why does 因 appear in words like 基因 and 可卡因?
In these loanwords 因 is chosen mainly for its sound, matching the -gene and -caine endings. In 基因 (jīyīn, gene) the meaning of cause or origin also fits nicely.