Kilo Lingo

(yīn wèi) - because, since in Mandarin

yīnwèi

Traditional: 因為

Line drawing of 因为
Coloured illustration of 因为
HSK 2
#82 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

because, since

Word origin

A compound of 因 (yīn, 'cause') and 为 (wèi, 'for the sake of'), meaning 'because'. 因 depicts a person 大 enclosed within a boundary 囗; the simplified 为 derives from an older picture of a hand leading an elephant.

Origin
compound
Root
因 (yīn, 'cause') + 为 (wèi, 'for')

Stroke order

Stroke order for 因

Stroke order for 为

Examples

I did not go because I was ill.

Because of the rain, we changed our plans.

Because of the rain, the match was cancelled.

Because I was so busy, I forgot to ring.

She cried because she could not find her mum.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 2.