Ch 25 · Lesson 18Mandarin · Chapter 25 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
由于 and 至于: owing to, and as for
gives the reason at the front of the sentence: , owing to the weather. moves on to the next point, so it needs one before it.
The short version
。，。Jiéguǒ wǒ yǐjīng shuō le. Zhìyú yuányīn, qǐng kàn xiàmiàn.
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(yóuyú), owing to, is the written (yīnwèi) and opens its clause: (yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn), owing to the weather. (zhìyú), as for, turns to the next point, so it needs a point before it. (bú zhìyú) means 'it won't come to that'.
由于 (yóuyú): owing to
(yóuyú) is the written (yīnwèi). It opens the first clause, before a noun phrase or a whole clause:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Yóuyú xià yǔ, bǐsài gǎidào le xīngqītiān. | Owing to rain, the match moved to Sunday |
，。 | Yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn, fēijī wǎn le liǎng ge xiǎoshí. | Owing to the weather, the plane was late |
(yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn), owing to the weather, is the stock phrase of airports and stations. How (yóuyú) pairs with (yīncǐ), and why it cannot trail, is on formal connectives.
至于 (zhìyú): as for
(zhìyú) moves on. One point is done; opens the next, so it needs something before it:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。，。 | Jiéguǒ wǒ yǐjīng shuō le. Zhìyú yuányīn, qǐng kàn xiàmiàn. | That's the result. As for the reasons, see below |
，。 | Zhìyú míngtiān de ānpái, wǒmen wǎn diǎn zàishuō. | As for tomorrow’s plans, we’ll talk later |
(bú zhìyú) means "it won't come to that": ，。 (Tā hěn shēngqì, búguò bú zhìyú dǎ rén.) - He's angry, but not enough to hit anyone.
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