Meaning of 缘故
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- reason
- cause
How to use 缘故
缘故 is a somewhat formal noun for the reason behind something, often used in the pattern 因为……的缘故 or 由于……的缘故. It usually explains a situation after the fact. Example: 因为下雨的缘故，比赛推迟了。(Yīnwèi xià yǔ de yuángù, bǐsài tuīchí le.) Because of the rain, the match was postponed.
缘 (yuán) means a connection or edge, like the thread on the 纟 silk side, and 故 (gù) means a cause or something from before. Put them together: the thread that connects back to what happened before is the reason.
Common mistake: Learners often use 缘故 like 原因 (yuányīn) in direct questions, but 你迟到的缘故是什么 sounds stiff, so ask 为什么 or use 原因 instead. Also do not confuse 缘 (yuán) with 原 (yuán, original). They sound the same but 缘 has the 纟 silk radical.
缘故 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
缘 yuán · reason · 12 strokes
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故 gù · happening · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 缘故.
| 故事 | gùshi | old practice |
| 故意 | gùyì | deliberately; on purpose |
| 事故 | shìgù | accident |
| 故乡 | gùxiāng | home; homeland |
| 边缘 | biānyuán | edge; fringe; verge; brink; periphery; marginal; borderline |
| 故障 | gùzhàng | malfunction; breakdown |
| 缘分 | yuánfèn | fate or chance that brings people together; predestined affinity or relationship |
| 无故 | wúgù | without cause or reason |
| 无缘 | wúyuán | to have no opportunity; no way (of doing sth) |
| 血缘 | xuèyuán | bloodline |
| 世故 | shìgu | the ways of the world |
| 绝缘 | juéyuán | to have no contact with; to be cut off from |
Questions about 缘故
What does 缘故 mean?
缘故 (yuángù) means "reason; cause" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 缘故?
缘故 is made of 2 characters: 缘 (12 strokes), 故 (9 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.
Is 缘故 an HSK word?
Yes. 缘故 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 缘故 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 缘故 is written 緣故.
What is the difference between 缘故 and 原因?
Both mean reason. 原因 is more neutral and common, and works well in questions and formal analysis. 缘故 often appears at the end of a phrase like 由于……的缘故 and has a slightly literary feel.
Can I say 什么缘故 to ask why?
Yes, 不知道是什么缘故 (bù zhīdào shì shénme yuángù), meaning I don't know what the reason is, is natural. It is less common as a direct, everyday question, where 为什么 (wèishénme) is usual.