原因 (yuán yīn) — reason, cause

Definition

原因 is a straightforward, everyday 'reason' or 'cause'. Among its siblings, 理由 is more about justification or excuse, 缘故 is more literary, and 根源 points to the deeper root cause.

noun
reasoncause
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 原因？
    Nǐ zhī dào tā shēng bìng de yuán yīn ma?
    Do you know the reason why he got sick?
  • 原因。
    Zhè jiàn shì de yuán yīn hěn jiǎn dān.
    The reason for this matter is very simple.
  • 原因。
    Wǒ men yào zhǎo chū wèn tí de yí gè yuán yīn.
    We need to find one cause of the problem.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

原yuánorigin
因yīncause

原 refers to origin and 因 to cause; together they mean the cause or reason for something.

Characters in this word

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

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Open 原 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsCause, Effect & Logic2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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