GRAMMAR DETAIL
せいで
Presents a cause of an unfavorable result with a critical or regretful attitude.
Examples
寝不足のせいで、会議中に集中できなかった。
Because I had not gotten enough sleep, I could not concentrate during the meeting.
Words used
寝不足のせいで、授業に集中できなかった。
Because I had not gotten enough sleep, I could not concentrate in class.
Words used
電車が遅れたせいで会議に間に合わなかった。
Because the train was late, I did not make it to the meeting on time.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
せいでto a plain clause or a form such as a noun followed byのto identify the cause of an unfavorable result. - Basic usage:
電車が遅れたせいで会議に間に合わなかった。attributes missing the meeting's start to the train delay.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A neutral reason and blame
遅れたので間に合わなかったexplains circumstances, while遅れたせいで間に合わなかったreadily conveys dissatisfaction with the cause. Attributing the cause to the listener can sound accusatory.
- Noun attachment and sentence-final use
- A noun takes
の, as in寝不足のせいで. The cause can also appear at the end withせいだ, as in集中できないのは寝不足のせいだ.
- A noun takes