Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …のせいで | … no sei de |
| …のために |
The expression …のせいで is used to indicate that something is caused by a specific reason, typically when that reason is being blamed for a negative outcome. Other ways to express causality include the formal ので, which attaches to nouns and verb phrases and the informal から, which is a simple way to say 'because' or 'due to'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word せい in …のせいで literally means 'fault' or 'blame', which is why the phrase carries a negative nuance.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the connotation of the cause. …のせいで is used when the cause results in a negative outcome or is being blamed. In contrast, …のために is used for neutral or positive reasons, as the word ため in this context refers to a 'reason' or 'cause' in a more objective sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using a noun with …のせいで, you must include the particle の between the noun and the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
… no sei de
Did you know?
- While せい usually implies blame, the phrase おかげで is used to say 'due to' when the result is positive. It literally means 'thanks to the shadow' or 'under the protection of' a higher power.
- The word ため in the phrase …のために can also mean 'for the sake of' or 'for the benefit of', meaning 'due to' and 'for the sake of' share the exact same expression.
- If you want to say something happened 'due to' a person's kindness, using …のせいで would sound like you are accusing them of being kind, which is a bizarre insult in Japanese.
Examples in context
- 彼は病気のため、会議に出席できませんでした。He couldn't attend the meeting due to illness.
- 雨のせいで、ピクニックが中止になりました。Due to the rain, the picnic got canceled.
- 昨夜遅く勉強したため、寝坊しました。Due to studying late last night, I overslept.
- 風邪のため、学校を休んだ。I missed school due to a cold.
- テストの影響で、彼は夜遅くまで勉強しました。Due to the impact of the test, he studied late into the night.
- 今日は雨が降るため、ピクニックを延期しましょう。We should postpone the picnic today due to the rain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “due to” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
