Chinese word

缘故

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuán gù

Meaning

  • nounreason

Example

他没告诉我具体的缘故。tā méi gào sù wǒ jù tǐ de yuán gù

He did not tell me the specific reason.

Illustration for 缘故 (reason)

More examples

造成这件事的缘故还不完全清楚。zào chéng zhè jiàn shì de yuán gù hái bù wán quán qīng chǔ

The reason this happened is still not completely clear.

Core concept

A circumstance or explanation that stands behind why an event or situation occurs.

Common phrases

  • 缘故在于yuán gù zài yú

    the reason lies in

  • 没有缘故méi yǒu yuán gù

    for no reason

Similar words

原因yuán yīn: The specific thing that directly causes an event or result.
理由lǐ yóu: The grounds or explanation supporting an action, choice, or decision.
起因qǐ yīn: The initial cause that brings about a particular event.
因素yīn sù: One factor or condition that contributes to a result.

Definition in Chinese

某一行为或情况产生的来由或理由，作为名词用于说明为何发生某事或存在某种情况。mǒu yì xíng wèi huò qíng kuàng chǎn shēng de lái yóu huò lǐ yóu zuò wéi míng cí yòng yú shuō míng wèi hé fā shēng mǒu shì huò cún zài móu zhǒng qíng kuàng

Word origin

The compound joins 缘 (yuán, "connection or circumstance") with 故 (gù, "cause"), linking the circumstance behind an event with the cause that explains it.

Usage tips

  • English often uses one word for both an explanation and an intended purpose, but this noun normally points to what accounts for a situation rather than a planned goal.

Other meanings

  • causenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word