〜せいで・せいか (~sei de / sei ka) — because of (bad result)
Laying the blame for something that went wrong.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Meaning
- When something went wrong and you want to pin the blame, use 「〜せいで」: 「電車が遅れたせいで、面接に遅れた」= because the train was late, I was late for the interview.
- It carries a note of complaint.
- If you are not sure of the cause, use 「〜せいか」: 「疲れているせいか、集中できない」= maybe because I'm tired, I can't focus.
Versus what you know
N3Its mirror image 「〜おかげで」is for good outcomes — keep the two apart.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
電車が遅れたせいで、面接に遅れた。
でんしゃがおくれたせいで、めんせつにおくれた。
Because the train was late, I was late for my interview.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 遅れる (to be late) → た-form 遅れた → add せいで → a bad result follows → it gives the feeling "it's the train's fault".
雨のせいで、試合が中止になった。
あめのせいで、しあいがちゅうしになった。
Because of the rain, the match was canceled.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 雨 is a noun → a noun needs の → 雨の + せいで → then the bad result "it was canceled" follows.
疲れているせいか、あまり集中できない。
つかれているせいか、あまりしゅうちゅうできない。
Maybe because I'm tired, I can't focus much.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 疲れている is the plain form of the verb → add せい and put か at the end → か gives the feeling "not sure, maybe".
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「雪＿、バスが来なかった。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 雪 is a noun.
Noun + の + せいで.
How do 「〜せいで」and 「〜おかげで」differ?
💡 Hint: Which one is a complaint?
せいで = bad result (blame); おかげで = good result (thanks).
Which do you use when you're unsure of the cause?
💡 Hint: A か is added at the end.
〜せいか = "perhaps because", an uncertain cause.
Your score: /3