他因 (tā yīn) — other cause; external factor; (formal) other reason

Definition

他因 refers to secondary or external causes beyond the main one (主因). Formal term used in analytical, academic, or policy writing rather than everyday speech.

noun
other causeexternal factor(formal) other reason

Examples

  • 他因。
    Zhè ge wèn tí de tā yīn hái xū yào jìn yí bù yán jiū.
    The other causes of this problem still require further research.
  • ，他因。
    Chú le zhǔ yīn zhī wài, tā yīn yě bù róng hū shì.
    Apart from the main cause, other factors cannot be ignored.
  • 他因。
    Tā zài fēn xī zhōng liè jǔ le jǐ gè kě néng de tā yīn.
    In his analysis, he listed several possible other causes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

他tāother
因yīncause

他因 uses 因, 'cause', described as 他, 'other'.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě他tā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

他 combines 亻 (a person) with 也, which was chosen for its sound.

Open 他 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 囗囗wéisheet
  • 大大dàperson

Originally, 因 showed 大 (a person) on 囗 (a sheet or mattress).

Open 因 →

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