TongTong
Sign in

来由 (lái yóu) — reason; cause; origin; antecedents

Definition

Noun for the 'reason/cause' behind something, often a past event or conflict. It pairs naturally with 矛盾 to mean the origin of a dispute. More literary than 原因.

noun
reasoncauseoriginantecedents

Examples

  • 来由。
    Qǐng gào sù wǒ men zhè jiàn shì de lái yóu.
    Please tell us the reason for this matter.
  • 来由。
    Tā xiáng xì jiě shì le máo dùn de lái yóu.
    He explained the origin of the conflict in detail.
  • 来由。
    Méi yǒu lái yóu dì fā huǒ shì bú duì de.
    It is wrong to get angry without reason.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

来láisource
由yóucause

「来」 points to the source and 「由」 points to the cause, giving reason or origin.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

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 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.