因 yīn — cause; reason; because
因为下雨，比赛取消了。Yīn wèi xià yǔ, bǐ sài qǔ xiāo le.Because of the rain, the match was canceled.
Common words: 因为 (yīn wèi)、原因 (yuán yīn)、因此 (yīn cǐ)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "cause"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "cause", including 因 (yīn), 由 (yóu), 原 (yuán), 故 (gù). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "cause" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 因 (yīn), 由 (yóu), 原 (yuán), 故 (gù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yīn, yóu, yuán, gù — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 因 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 因 yīncause; reason; becauseUseful words: 因为, 原因
- 由 yóufollow; from; it is for...to; reason; cause; because ofUseful words: 自由, 由于
- 原 yuánformer; original; primary; raw; level; causeUseful words: 原因, 原来
- 故 gùhappening; instance; reason; cause; deceased; oldUseful words: 故事, 故意
Common words for these 4 "cause" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 因 (yīn) — so "cause" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
因为yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of原因yuán yīncause; origin; root cause; reason因此yīn cǐthus; consequently; as a result自由zì yóufreedom; liberty; free; unrestricted由于yóu yúdue to; as a result of; thanks to; owing to理由lǐ yóureason; grounds; justification原因yuán yīncause; origin; root cause; reason原来yuán láioriginal; former; originally; formerly原则yuán zéprinciple; doctrine故事gù shìold practice
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "cause".
由 yóu — follow; from; it is for...to; reason; cause; because of
这件事由你来决定。Zhè jiàn shì yóu nǐ lái jué dìng.This matter is for you to decide.
Common words: 自由 (zì yóu)、由于 (yóu yú)、理由 (lǐ yóu)
原 yuán — former; original; primary; raw; level; cause
原来你也在这里！Yuán lái nǐ yě zài zhè lǐ!So you are here too!
Common words: 原因 (yuán yīn)、原来 (yuán lái)、原则 (yuán zé)
故 gù — happening; instance; reason; cause; deceased; old
奶奶给我讲了一个古老的故事。Nǎi nai gěi wǒ jiǎng le yí ge gǔ lǎo de gù shi.Grandma told me an old story.
Common words: 故事 (gù shì)、故意 (gù yì)、事故 (shì gù)
All 4 characters
Open 因、由、原 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.