せいで
せいで
expression
because of; due to (negative cause)
1.
because of; due to (negative cause)
Indicates the cause or reason for an undesirable outcome. Attaches to nouns (with の), na-adjectives (with な), i-adjectives, and verbs in plain form.
雨のせいで遅れた。
I was late because of the rain.
寝不足のせいで頭が痛い。
My head hurts because of lack of sleep.
工事のせいで道が渋滞していて、会議に間に合わなかった。
The road was congested because of construction, and I didn't make it to the meeting in time.
Derived from 所為 (cause, fault), せいで is used exclusively when the result is negative or undesirable. For positive outcomes, おかげで is used instead.
USAGE:
せいで follows nouns with の, na-adjectives with な, and plain-form verbs or i-adjectives directly. It can also appear as せいか (softer, less certain) or in the pattern のせいにする (to blame something on).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 名詞のせいで — because of [noun]
- 動詞せいで — because [verb]
- せいか — perhaps because of
- のせいにする — to blame on
SIMILAR WORDS:
- おかげで — thanks to; because of (positive result)
- ために — because of (neutral, can be positive or negative)
- によって — due to (formal, neutral cause)