情由 (qíng yóu) — reason, cause

Definition

Literary/formal term for 'reason' or 'cause,' typically referring to the background or circumstances of an event. Often used with 事情 (shìqing) as 事情的情由. It is more written than plain 原因.

noun
reasoncause

Examples

  • 情由。
    Tā jiě shì le zì jǐ chí dào de qíng yóu.
    He explained the reason for his lateness.
  • 情由。
    Zhè jiàn shì de qíng yóu hěn fù zá.
    The cause of this matter is very complicated.
  • 情由，。
    Nǐ bù liǎo jiě shì qing de qíng yóu, bú yào suí biàn xià jié lùn.
    You don't understand the reason for the matter, don't jump to conclusions.

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.

情qíngcircumstances
由yóucause

The senses of 情 and 由 both concern the underlying cause or circumstances, giving the meaning reason; cause.

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →

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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