因为
because
Say it yourself
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HSK level
- Pinyin
- yīnwèi
- Part of speech
- conjunction
- Level
- HSK 2
- Strokes
- 10
- Register
- neutral
- In episodes
- 2
Stroke order for 因为
因为 is written with 10 strokes (因: 6, 为: 4). The animation replays automatically.
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 by character
Memory hook: Literally 'cause-for' — the reason FOR which something happens. Pair it with 所以 (suǒyǐ) like a hand-in-glove: because…, therefore…
Hear 因为 in real episodes
因为 appears in 2 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
他说，他们输了，是因为伊朗的战争。
He said they lost because of the war in Iran.
Trump Moves to Cut Israel Military Aid as Republicans Blame Israel for Midterm DefeatElementary
因为北爱尔兰的法律，和别的地方不一样。
Because Northern Ireland's laws are different from other places.
Lidl Opens Its First Pub in Northern Ireland After Six-Year Licensing Battle Over Alcohol Laws
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
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).
Frequently asked questions
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
Meet 因为 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
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