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诱因 (yòu yīn) — cause (especially of illness or negative events); incentive; inducement

Definition

诱因 names a 'cause' or 'incentive' that triggers something (often illness, conflict, or a decision). It frames the cause as a precipitating factor — distinct from 原因, which is a broader, neutral reason.

noun
cause (especially of illness or negative events)incentiveinducement

Examples

  • 诱因。
    Zhè zhǒng jí bìng de yòu yīn mù qián hái bù qīng chǔ.
    The cause of this disease is still unclear.
  • 诱因。
    Gāo é jiǎng jīn shì yuán gōng nǔ lì gōng zuò de zhǔ yào yòu yīn.
    The high bonus is the main incentive for employees to work hard.
  • 诱因。
    Jīng jì yā lì wǎng wǎng chéng wéi fàn zuì de zhòng yào yòu yīn.
    Economic pressure often becomes an important inducement for crime.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

诱yòuinduce
因yīncause

诱 expresses inducing or luring, and 因 is a cause, together naming a cause that brings something about.

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 誘; 诱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword, language
Sound part声符shēngfú
秀
秀xiù誘yòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 誘 pairs 言 (word, language) with 秀, which supplies the sound.

Open 诱 →

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 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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