所以

• 読み: ゆえん
• ローマ字: yuen
• 漢字の分解: 所 (sho/toko) — that which, place; 以 (i/motte) — by means of, reason
• 発音: /jɯe̞n/

意味

Reason; grounds; the basis for why something is so.

A formal, literary noun used to express the underlying reason or grounds for something. Typically appears in the pattern 〜の所以 (the reason for...) or 所以に (for that reason). Considerably more formal and classical in register than わけ or 理由. Encountered in formal essays, philosophical writing, and literary prose. Rarely used in spoken language.

例文

1. それが彼の偉大さの所以だと多くの人が認めている。
2. 伝統が受け継がれる所以は、その実用性にあるのだろう。
3. この法律が廃止された所以を理解するには歴史的背景が必要だ。

使い方ガイド

場面: literary, philosophical, academic, formal essays

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Compound of 所 (that which, place) and 以 (by means of, reason). The combination means 'that by which' or 'the basis for', a classical construction expressing grounds or reasoning.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Educated