原因 meaning in English

yuányīn

cause; origin

HSK 2noun16 strokes

Meaning of 原因

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

yuányīn

cause
origin
root cause
reason

Measure word: 個|个

How to use 原因

原因 is a noun, so it names a reason rather than linking clauses like 因为 does. It often appears in patterns like ……的原因是…… (the reason for ... is ...) or 什么原因 (what reason). Example: 你迟到的原因是什么？(Nǐ chídào de yuányīn shì shénme?) What is the reason you were late?

原 (yuán) means original or source, and 因 (yīn) is the 因 in 因为 (yīnwèi, because). Put them together and you get the original "because": the reason behind something.

Common mistake: Learners often use 原因 as a conjunction, saying 原因我病了 instead of 因为我病了 (yīnwèi wǒ bìng le, because I was sick). Also keep both syllables in second and first tone: yuányīn, not yuànyīn.

原因 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ们men来lái这zhè里lǐ是shì为wèi了le同tóng一yī个gè原yuán因yīn。

We're both here for the same reason.

你nǐ知zhī道dào是shì什shén么me原yuán因yīn吗ma？

Do you know the reason?

这zhè是shì你nǐ不bù愿yuàn意yì一yì起qǐ来lái的de原yuán因yīn吗ma？

Is this the reason you didn't want to come with me?

你nǐ不bù想xiǎng知zhī道dào原yuán因yīn吗ma？

Don't you want to know the reason?

没méi有yǒu人rén能néng告gào诉sù原yuán因yīn。

No one can tell the reason.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

原 yuán · former · 10 strokes

因 yīn · cause · 6 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 原因.

因为	yīnwèi	because; owing to; on account of
原来	yuánlái	original; former; originally; formerly; at first
因此	yīncǐ	thus; consequently; as a result
原则	yuánzé	principle; doctrine
原料	yuánliào	raw material
原始	yuánshǐ	first; original
草原	cǎoyuán	grassland; prairie
原理	yuánlǐ	principle; theory
原先	yuánxiān	originally; original
平原	píngyuán	field; plain
因而	yīn'ér	therefore; as a result
高原	gāoyuán	plateau

Questions about 原因

What does 原因 mean?

原因 (yuányīn) means "cause; origin" and is used as a noun.

How do you write 原因?

原因 is made of 2 characters: 原 (10 strokes), 因 (6 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.

Is 原因 an HSK word?

Yes. 原因 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 原因 and 理由?

原因 (yuányīn) is the cause of something, often objective, like the cause of an accident. 理由 (lǐyóu) is a justification or excuse a person gives for their actions. A delay has a 原因, but you give a 理由 for skipping class.

How do I say "for some reason" or "for this reason" with 原因?

Use 由于某种原因 (yóuyú mǒu zhǒng yuányīn) for "for some reason." For "for this reason," say 因为这个原因 (yīnwèi zhège yuányīn) or simply use 因此 (yīncǐ).