なぜ
なぜ
noun
why
1.
why, how come
Used to ask for the reason or cause of something.
なぜ来なかったの。
Why didn't you come?
なぜそう思うのですか。
Why do you think so?
なぜ遅れたのか、理由を教えてください。
Please tell me the reason why you were late.
なぜそんなことを言ったのか、今でも自分では分からない。
I still don't understand why I said such a thing.
なぜ日本に来たのかと聞かれて、日本の文化に興味があるからだと答えた。
When asked why I came to Japan, I answered that it was because I was interested in Japanese culture.
なぜ asks for the reason or cause behind something.
FORMALITY:
More formal than どうして. Appropriate for writing, news, and formal speech.
FORMS:
- Kanji: 何故 (literary/formal)
- なぜか: for some reason, somehow
- なぜなら: because (used to introduce an explanation)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- なぜ〜のか: why (embedded question)
- なぜ〜かというと: the reason why... is
- なぜ〜のですか: why? (polite)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- どうして: more casual, also means "how"
- なんで: colloquial, casual