Korean word

왜냐하면

Pronunciation

Romanizationwaenyahamyeon

Meaning

  • adverbbecause

Example

왜냐하면 제가 아팠어요.wae nya ha myeon che ga a pa sseo yo

Because I was sick.

Illustration for 왜냐하면 (because)

More examples

왜냐하면 시간이 없었어요.wae nya ha myeon si ga ni eop sseo sseo yo

Because I did not have time.

Core concept

A bridge that brings in the reason for what was just said.

Common phrases

  • 왜냐하면 ... 때문이다wae nya ha myeon ttae mu ni da

    because ___

  • 왜냐하면 ...때문이에요wae nya ha myeon ttae mu ni e yo

    because ___

Similar words

그래서keuraeseo: Shows that the next situation or action happens as a result of what came before.
그러니까keureonikka: Restates the main point and uses it to introduce a conclusion or suggestion.

Definition in Korean

질문에 대한 해명이나 근거를 밝힐 때 쓰는 부사적 연결어로, 일상에서는 줄여 쓰기도 한다.chil mu ne tae han hae myeong i na keun geo reul pal kil ttae sseu neun pu sa jeok yeon gyeo reo ro il sang e seo neun chu ryeo sseu gi do han da

Word origin

The expression combines 왜냐 (waenya, "why") with 하면 (hamyeon, "if one does"), creating a phrase that introduces a reason.

Usage tips

  • Korean speakers may use the shorter conversational form waenyamyeon instead of 왜냐하면 (waenyahamyeon, "because"), so both forms are useful for understanding spoken reasons.

Word lists with this word