原由 (yuán yóu) — reason, cause, grounds

Definition

Same meaning as 原因 yuányīn ('reason, cause') but written/formal — use it in formal writing, official explanations, or legal contexts rather than everyday speech.

noun
reasoncausegrounds
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，原由。
    Tā lí kāi gōng sī, yuán yóu bù míng.
    He left the company for unknown reasons.
  • 原由。
    Zhè jiàn shì de yuán yóu hěn fù zá.
    The reasons behind this matter are very complicated.
  • 原由。
    Nǐ bì xū shuō míng zhè yàng zuò de yuán yóu.
    You must explain the reason for doing this.

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yuáncause
由yóureason

The parts 原 and 由 both point to cause or reason, so together they mean the 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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

It began as a drawing of new shoots or leaves growing upward from a plant-like base.

Open 由 →

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