原因yuán yīnreason
原因 (yuán yīn) means "reason." As reason, it appears in 你知道原因吗 (Do you know the reason?) and 他没来的原因是什么 (What's the reason he didn't come?). A speaker also says 我不想说原因 (I don't want to say the reason). It combines 原 (cause) and 因 (reason).
What does 原因 mean?
- 1.
reasonnoun
What do the characters in 原因 mean?
- 原cause
- 因reason
How do you use 原因?
See it in 你知道原因吗 and 他没来的原因是什么
What are some examples of 原因 in a sentence?
How is 原因 used in a conversation?
- Speaker A:
你为什么不高兴?
Nǐ wèishénme bù gāoxìng?
Why are you unhappy?
- Speaker B:
我不想说原因。
Wǒ bù xiǎng shuō yuányīn.
I don't want to say the reason.
- Speaker A:
好吧。
Hǎo ba.
Okay.
- Speaker B:
谢谢你。
Xièxie nǐ.
Thank you.
Can you use 原因 correctly?
0 of 3 answeredWhat should you learn next?
- Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
- HSK 4 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
- HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.
Related words
- 原来yuán láiso, actually, as it turns outHSK 4
- 原谅yuán liàngto forgiveHSK 4
- 因此yīn cǐthus; consequently; as a resultHSK 4
- 因为yīn wèibecauseHSK 2
- 一生yì shēngall one's life; throughout one's lifeHSK 4
- 专业zhuān yèspecialty; specialized field; main field of study (at university); majorHSK 4
Browse every entry in the Chinese word dictionary.
English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.