〜ゆえ(に) (~yue (ni)) — because of ~ (formal, written)
The old, stiff big brother of 「ため」— the 'because' of essays, speeches and formal letters.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- In a newspaper column you meet a sentence like: 'Precisely because they do not understand the language, many foreigners struggle at hospitals.'
- It sounds old and serious — essays, speeches, legal papers and formal letters only; with a friend just say 「から」.
Meaning
- The stiffest, most formal written word for 'because of' is 「〜ゆえ(に)」.
- What follows is a calm description or conclusion.
How to attach
- Straight after a noun or with 「の」: 貧しさゆえに・その若さのゆえに; or with 「である」: 外国人であるゆえに
- な-adjective: 「な」or 「である」: 不便なゆえに
- Verb or い-adjective, plain form directly: 知らないゆえに
- You can drop 「に」and write just 「ゆえ、」
- For extra weight 「がゆえに」; before a noun 「ゆえの N」(外国人ゆえの悩み)
Versus what you know
N3The meaning is the same as 「〜ため(に)」for causes (「事故のため、電車が遅れた」), but 「ゆえに」sounds old and serious.
Watch out
Using it for a small daily matter like 'I was hungry, so I bought an onigiri' sounds comic.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
言葉が分からないゆえに、病院で困っている外国人は多い。
ことばがわからないゆえに、びょういんでこまっているがいこくじんはおおい。
Because they do not understand the language, many foreigners struggle at hospitals.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 分からない = not understand → 「ゆえに」 attached to the plain form → then a calm description, like a newspaper article: 外国人は多い = there are many foreigners.
経験不足ゆえに、新しい支店の運営はうまくいかなかった。
けいけんふそくゆえに、あたらしいしてんのうんえいはうまくいかなかった。
Owing to a lack of experience, running the new branch did not go well.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 経験不足 = lack of experience (N) → 「ゆえに」 directly after the N → then a result, like in a company report: うまくいかなかった = it didn't go well.
小さな会社ゆえ、一人がいくつもの仕事を担当している。
ちいさなかいしゃゆえ、ひとりがいくつものしごとをたんとうしている。
As we're a small company, each person handles several jobs.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 小さな会社 = small company → drop 「に」, just 「ゆえ、」 → then the description: 担当している = are in charge of.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「彼は正直__ゆえに、うそがつけなかった。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 正直 is a な-adjective.
な-adj + な/である + ゆえに. 正直なゆえに = precisely because he is honest. It never takes 「だ」.
In which sentence is 「ゆえ(に)」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Which one is a casual everyday chat?
「ゆえに」is stiff written language. For buying an onigiri because you were hungry, say 「から」: おなかすいたから…
Chatting with a friend: 「雨__、試合なくなったって。」— which is natural?
💡 Hint: Where is this said — in an essay or to a friend?
Even with the same meaning, 「ゆえに」belongs to speeches and essays. With a friend use the everyday 「で」or 「だから」: 雨で試合なくなった.
Your score: /3