起因 (qǐ yīn) — cause, reason (for something to happen) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

起因 (qǐyīn) is a formal, written noun for the 'cause' or 'origin' of an event — used in news, reports, and analysis, more abstract and literary than everyday 原因.

noun

causereason (for something to happen)

Examples

起因？
Shì gù de qǐ yīn shì shén me?
What is the cause of the accident?
起因。
Zhè cì huǒ zāi de qǐ yīn hái zài diào chá.
The cause of this fire is still under investigation.
起因。
Tā shēng bìng de qǐ yīn yǒu hěn duō.
There are many reasons for his illness.

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.

起qǐhappen

起 (happen) and 因 (cause) combine to mean the reason something happens.

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.

走巳起

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

巳

巳sì起qǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

囗大因

囗囗wéisheet
大大dàperson

Originally, 因 showed 大 (a person) on 囗 (a sheet or mattress).

Appears in

Cause, Effect & Logic

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