因为
because
yīnwèi
What does 因为 mean?
因为 (yīnwèi) is the Chinese conjunction for 'because.' It introduces the reason for something and is the workhorse word for causal sentences. The most natural pattern is the paired construction 因为…所以… ('because…, therefore…'): 因为下雨，所以我没去 ('Because it rained, I didn't go'). Unlike English, Chinese typically keeps BOTH halves — dropping 所以 sounds incomplete to native ears, especially in writing. 因为 can stand at the start of the sentence (giving the reason first) or after the main clause (giving the reason as an explanation): 我没去，因为下雨了. To ask 'why?' use 为什么 (wèishénme); to answer, start with 因为. In rapid speech, the second syllable is often shortened to a neutral tone: yīnwei.
Character breakdown
cause; reason
for; because of
Memory hook: Literally 'cause-for' — the reason FOR which something happens. Pair it with 所以 (suǒyǐ) like a hand-in-glove: because…, therefore…
Example sentences
因为下雨，所以我没去。
Yīnwèi xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù.
Because it rained, I didn't go.
neutral
我喜欢他，因为他很好。
Wǒ xǐhuan tā, yīnwèi tā hěn hǎo.
I like him because he's nice.
spoken
因为太累了，他早早就睡了。
Yīnwèi tài lèi le, tā zǎozǎo jiù shuì le.
Because he was too tired, he went to bed early.
neutral
我学中文是因为我喜欢中国文化。
Wǒ xué Zhōngwén shì yīnwèi wǒ xǐhuan Zhōngguó wénhuà.
I'm learning Chinese because I love Chinese culture.
neutral
Common phrases with 因为
Hear it in real Fluentide episodes
因为 appears in 1 podcast episode at natural native speed, with full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Synonyms
由于 is the formal/written equivalent of 因为, common in news, reports, and essays. In everyday speech, 因为 is the default; 由于 sounds bookish.
因 alone means 'because' but is more literary and concise — used in headlines and formal writing (因故取消 — 'cancelled due to circumstances'). In conversation, always say 因为.
Don't confuse 因为 with
为什么 is the QUESTION 'why?' 因为 is the ANSWER 'because.' Q: 你为什么不来？ A: 因为我很忙。
为了 means 'in order to / for the sake of' (purpose, future-oriented). 因为 means 'because' (reason, past/present cause). 为了健康 ('for health') vs 因为健康 ('because of health,' usually as a problem).
因此 means 'therefore / for this reason' — it's the THEN-half, not the BECAUSE-half. Don't swap 因为 (cause) with 因此 (consequence).