N で (N de) — Because of N
Illness, an accident, a typhoon — the short way to give the cause as a single noun.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
At work, 「風邪で 休みます」is the line you will use most when calling in sick.
Meaning
- Putting で after a noun gives the meaning "because of that": 病気で 休みました (I took the day off because I was ill), 事故で 電車が 遅れました (the train was late because of an accident).
- The noun is usually something outside your control — 病気、風邪、熱、事故、地震、台風、火事、仕事.
Versus what you know
N5Note: で also marks a place (会社で 働きます) and a means (バスで 行きます), so read the noun to tell which one it is — words like 台風 and 事故 cannot be a means.
Watch out
As with the て form of cause, a request or an order cannot follow it.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
病気で 会社を 休みました。
びょうきで かいしゃを やすみました。
I took the day off work because I was ill.
事故で 電車が 遅れました。
じこで でんしゃが おくれました。
The train was late because of an accident.
台風で 電車が 止まりました。
たいふうで でんしゃが とまりました。
The trains stopped because of the typhoon.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Which correctly says "I am taking the day off because of a cold"?
💡 Hint: Which particle follows a noun that gives the cause?
A noun giving the cause takes で: 風邪で 休みます.
Which correctly says "the trains stopped because of the heavy rain"?
💡 Hint: The 「で」that gives a cause attaches straight to a noun.
大雨 is a noun, so it becomes 大雨で — no だ or な is added. で does not attach after a verb to give a cause; that needs ので or から (大雨が 降ったので).
In which of these does 「で」NOT show a cause?
💡 Hint: Is the bus a cause, or a means?
バスで = by bus — that is a means, not a cause.
Your score: /3