Using "because" with "er" to indicate effect

因为⋯⋯，而⋯⋯(yīnwèi...ér...) is another structure that can express cause and effect. It is used like this:

Structure

Subj. + 因(为) + Cause + 而 + Result

Sometimes, 因为 can be shortened to just 因. This is used more in sentences that shorter and more succinct.

Examples

• 我 因为 生病 而 请假。Wǒ yīnwèi shēngbìng ér qǐngjià.Because I got sick, I asked for time off.
• 欧洲 的 经济 因为 债务 危机 而 陷入 衰退。Ōuzhōu de jīngjì yīnwèi zhàiwù wéijī ér xiànrù shuāituì.Because Europe is suffering a debt crisis, it is falling into decline.
• 首相 因为 受贿 丑闻 而 下 了 台。Shǒuxiàng yīnwèi shòuhuì chǒuwén ér xiàle tái.Because the prime minister accepted bribes, he fell from power.
• 伦敦 地铁 因 罢工 而 处于 瘫痪 状态。Lúndūn Dìtiě yīn bàgōng ér chǔyú tānhuàn zhuàngtài.Because of the London Metro strike, everything shut down.
• 妈妈 因 小朋友的陪伴， 而 忘记 了 生活的 不愉快。Māma yīn xiǎopéngyou de péibàn, ér wàngjì le shēnghuó de bù yúkuài.Mom forgets the unpleasantness of life because of her child's company.
• 他 因为 熬夜 而 精神 不能 集中。Tā yīnwéi áoyè ér jīngshén bùnéng jízhōng.He could not concentrate because he stayed up late.
• 大地 因 火山 爆发 而 引发 地震。Dàdì yīn huǒshān bàofā ér yǐnfā dìzhèn.Earthquakes are caused by volcanic eruptions.
• 这 家 餐厅 因 火锅 而 出名。Zhè jiā cāntīng yīn huǒguō ér chūmíng.This restaurant is famous for its hotpot.
• 生活 因 你 而 精彩。Shēnghuó yīn nǐ ér jīngcǎi.Life is wonderful because of you.
• 因为 朋友 而 让 我 明白 了 朋友 的 重要。 Yīnwéi péngyou ér ràng wǒ míngbai le péngyou de zhòngyào.I realized the importance of friends because of them.

See also

• Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"
• Explaining results with "suoyi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 92) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

Websites

• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 而

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