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归因于 (guī yīn yú) — to attribute (something) to (something else); to be attributed to

Definition

Formal verb meaning 'to attribute (a result, cause, or effect) to (something)' — often used in academic or analytical writing, e.g. 科学家把气候变化∼人类活动. Less common in casual speech than simpler verbs like 因为.

verb
to attribute (something) to (something else)to be attributed to

Examples

  • 归因于。
    Tā bǎ chéng gōng guī yīn yú zì jǐ de nǔ lì.
    He attributes his success to his own efforts.
  • 归因于。
    Zhè cì shì gù guī yīn yú guǎn lǐ bú dàng.
    This accident was attributed to improper management.
  • 归因于。
    Kē xué jiā bǎ qì hòu biàn huà guī yīn yú rén lèi huó dòng.
    Scientists attribute climate change to human activities.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

归因attribute
归guīassign因yīncause
动宾Verb + object
于yúto

归因 assigns a cause, and 于 links that cause to something, giving the sense of being attributed to it.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →

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 →

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

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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