缘故 (yuán gù) — reason; cause | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

缘故 (yuángù) is a more formal written word for 'reason' than 原因, often used after 因为…的 / 出于…的 to introduce the cause. Unlike 缘分 (fated connection), it points to a concrete reason, not destiny.

noun

reasoncause

Examples

缘故，。
Yīn wèi tiān qì rè de yuán gù, wǒ men méi qù pá shān.
Because of the hot weather, we didn't go hiking.
缘故，。
Chū yú ān quán de yuán gù, xué xiào guān le dà mén.
For safety reasons, the school closed the main gate.
缘故？
Tā tū rán lí kāi de yuán gù shì shén me?
What is the reason for his sudden departure?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

故gùreason

缘 (cause) and 故 (reason) combine to mean the reason for something.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緣; 缘 is its simplified writing.

糹彖緣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

彖

彖tuàn緣⁰yuán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緣 puts 糸 (silk) beside 彖, which gives the sound; the simplified 缘 is a later abbreviation.

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

古攵故

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

古gǔ故gù

Same sound today

故 uses 古 for the sound and 攵, written in full as 攴, for the meaning.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Cause, Effect & Logic

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