原因

• 拼音: yuán yīn
• 汉字拆解: 原 = 厂 (cliff) + 泉 (spring), meaning 'source/origin'; 因 = 口 (enclosure) + 大 (big), meaning 'cause/because'

含义

Reason; cause. The explanation or motive behind something happening.

Used to ask about or explain why something happened. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese. Often used in patterns like 原因是... (the reason is...) and ...的原因 (the reason for...). Slightly more formal than 为什么 but widely used in everyday speech.

例句

1. 迟到的原因是路上堵车了。
2. 你知道他生气的原因吗？
3. 医生想了解生病的原因。

用法指南

语境: everyday, academic, work

语气: informational

正确说法

• 请告诉我原因。(Please tell me the reason.)
• 失败的原因有很多。(There are many reasons for the failure.)

错误说法

• 原因为什么？(Don't combine 原因 with 为什么 — they're redundant. Say 原因是什么 or just 为什么.)

起源与历史

Compound of 原 (source/origin) and 因 (cause/reason), literally 'the original cause' — the root explanation for something.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal