Readings: イン (Onyomi), よ.る (Kunyomi)
Meaning: cause, factor, depend on, be related to
The kanji 因 is said to depict a large object (大, which is similar in shape to the original form of ‘big’) contained within an enclosure (囗). This imagery suggests something that is foundational, inherent, or contained within, leading to its meaning of ’cause’ or ‘reason’. It can also imply something that relies on or is due to something else.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 因 has 6 strokes. The first three strokes form the enclosure (囗), followed by the three strokes for the inner component (大).
Kanji Details
| Radical | 囗 (くにがまえ – enclosure) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- イン (In)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- よる (yoru)
Common Words Using 因
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 原因 | げんいん | cause, origin, source |
| 要因 | よういん | primary factor, main cause |
| 死因 | しいん | cause of death |
| 病因 | びょういん | cause of illness, etiology |
| 因果 | いんが | cause and effect, karma |
| 因縁 | いんねん | fate, destiny, karma, connection |
| 因習 | いんしゅう | old custom, established practice |
| 帰因 | きいん | attribution, to be attributed to |
| 素因 | そいん | predisposition, predisposing factor |
| 誘因 | ゆういん | incentive, inducement, cause |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 因る | よる | to be due to, to result from |
| 因みに | ちなみに | by the way, incidentally |
| 因って | よって | therefore, consequently |
| 因りて | よりて | therefore, consequently (archaic) |
| 因り所 | よりどころ | basis, grounds, authority |
| 〜に因る | 〜による | to be based on, to be caused by |
| 〜に因って | 〜によって | due to, by means of |
| 〜に因れば | 〜によれば | according to, if it depends on |
| 〜に因らず | 〜によらず | regardless of, without depending on |
| 事の因る所 | ことのよるところ | the reason for something, the source of a matter |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 事故の原因を調査している。
Kana: じこのげんいんをちょうさしている。
Romaji: Jiko no gen’in o chōsa shite iru.
English: They are investigating the cause of the accident.
Japanese: 彼の成功の要因は努力です。
Kana: かれのせいこうのよういんはどりょくです。
Romaji: Kare no seikō no yōin wa doryoku desu.
English: The main factor in his success is effort.
Japanese: その病気の死因は心臓麻痺でした。
Kana: そのびょうきのしいんはしんぞうまひでした。
Romaji: Sono byōki no shiin wa shinzō mahi deshita.
English: The cause of death for that illness was a heart attack.
Japanese: この結果は彼の怠慢に因るものだ。
Kana: このけっかはかれのたいまんにによるものだ。
Romaji: Kono kekka wa kare no taiman ni yoru mono da.
English: This result is due to his negligence.
Japanese: 因みに、明日の会議は午前中です。
Kana: ちなみに、あすのかいぎはごぜんちゅうです。
Romaji: Chinami ni, asu no kaigi wa gozenchū desu.
English: By the way, tomorrow’s meeting is in the morning.
Japanese: 因果応報という言葉がある。
Kana: いんがおうほうということばがある。
Romaji: Ingaōhō to iu kotoba ga aru.
English: There is a saying called “cause and effect” (or “karma”).
Japanese: 二人の間には深い因縁がある。
Kana: ふたりのあいだにはふかいえんねんがある。
Romaji: Futari no aida ni wa fukai en’nen ga aru.
English: There is a deep fateful connection between the two of them.
Japanese: 昔ながらの因習にとらわれている。
Kana: むかしながらのいんしゅうにとらわれている。
Romaji: Mukashinagara no inshū ni torawarete iru.
English: They are bound by old customs.
Japanese: その問題の病因はまだ不明です。
Kana: そのもんだいのびょういんはまだふめいです。
Romaji: Sono mondai no byōin wa mada fumei desu.
English: The cause of the disease for that problem is still unknown.
Japanese: その事故はスピード違反に因って起こった。
Kana: そのじこはスピードいはんによっておこった。
Romaji: Sono jiko wa supīdo ihan ni yotte okotta.
English: That accident happened due to speeding.
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