Japanese Particle de (で) for
Cause or Reason -
Intermediate Lessons: 34

In this lesson, I am going to introduce another function of Japanese particle de (で).

You know that most Japanese particles have multiple functions. Depending on situations, the same particle can represent different meanings in a sentence.

To recall what you have learned in the previous lessons about the particle de (で), check out basic lesson 16 and intermediate lesson 18.

Japanese particle de (で) sometimes indicates a cause or a reason. But there's a regulation that you need to take note of.

Sentence Pattern

Let's see what's the sentence pattern like...

The "Noun" that is often used with this particle de (で) as a cause is a noun which indicates a particular kind of event, such as:

• 事故 (jiko - accident)
• 火事 (kaji - fire)
• 大雨 (ooame - heavy rain)
• 大雪 (ooyuki - heavy snow)
• 地震 (jishin - earthquake)
• 津波 (tsunami - tidal wave)
• 病気 (byouki - sickness)
• 仕事 (shigoto - work)
• etc.

As you can see, these events are mostly natural phenomena, disasters, happenings, events, etc.

Examples

Let's use some examples to show how to use this function of Japanese particle de (で)...

Regulation for using Japanese Particle de (で) as a Cause/Reason

You cannot have expression containing speaker's volitional action in the Result sentence. Therefore this particle is used in the following way:

→ Due to a cause/reason, an uncontrollable event happened.

Let's use some examples to show what it means in the regulation...

Based on the regulation, only example 3 is correct because the other two examples show the speaker's volitional actions in the Result sentences.

In example 1, you are thinking of being absent from school. You have a choice of going or not going to school.

But you are thinking of not going to school because of your illness. This is a volitional action and thus failed to meet the regulation.

In example 2, you want to be absent from school. It's your desire since たい-form is being used. As this's also a volitional action, it failed to meet the regulation.

For example 3, the Result sentence 学校を休みました (gakkou wo yasumimashita) can be a volitional action by itself.

However, because it's used together with the particle de (で) in the sentence, it's no more a volitional action. You couldn't go to school due to your illness and you have no choice but to stay at home.

For example 2 and 3, you have to use から (kara) or ので (node) to make the sentences correct.

Summary

Therefore, for Noun で Result, the Result has to be:

Practice on using Japanese Particle de (で) as a Cause/Reason

Let's do some practice to check if you understand when to use Japanese particle de (で) as a cause/reason correctly.

Connect the two sentences in the following examples. The first sentence is the reason and the second sentence is the result.

Use the particle de (で) if you think it can be used. Use から (kara) if you think otherwise.

Answers

How well have you done? Have you got all your answers right?

Related Pages

Basic Lesson 16: Particles to (と) and de (で).

Lesson 18: Particle de (で) with more Functions.

Lesson 20: Japanese Grammar for Cause and Reason.

FAQ Page: How to use から (kara) in Japanese for reason.

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