Kilo Lingo

(shì yīn wèi) - it is because, it is due to in Mandarin

shìyīnwèi

Traditional: 是因為

Line drawing of 是因为
Coloured illustration of 是因为
HSK 3
#460 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

it is because, it is due to

Word origin

A three-character phrase: 是 (shì) 'it is' plus the conjunction 因為 (yīn wèi) 'because'. 因 shows a person 大 enclosed within 囗, suggesting a cause or basis; 為 depicts a hand leading an elephant to work. The whole means 'it is because'.

Origin
compound
Root
是 (shì, to be) + 因 (yīn, cause) + 為 (wèi, for the sake of)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 是

Stroke order for 因

Stroke order for 为

Examples

He cried because he was so happy.

I didn't come because I was ill.

Success is because of hard work.

sāi

She was late because of the traffic.

I like this book because of the story.

是因为 (shì yīn wèi) - it is because, it is due to.

Used in

Add to review queue

Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.

Go to my review queue

This word is part of lesson 10.