noun HSK 3
reason · cause · factor
Meaning
原因 refers to the reason or cause behind something happening. It's used to explain why an event occurred or why someone did something. This is one of the most common words for expressing causation in Mandarin.
Usage
原因 is neutral in register and used in both spoken and written contexts. It commonly appears in the pattern '...的原因' (the reason for...) or '原因是...' (the reason is...). Often paired with 结果 (result) when discussing cause and effect relationships.
Examples
- 01他迟到的原因是交通堵塞。.The reason he was late is traffic congestion.
- 02你能告诉我什么原因吗？?Can you tell me what the reason is?
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个原因
Common collocations
- 主要原因main reason
- ...的原因...the reason for...
- 原因是the reason is
- 什么原因what reason
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to causation: 原 means 'original/source' and 因 means 'cause.' Together they form a compound emphasizing the root cause of something.