〜せいで: This shows a reason for something bad. It means 'because of' or 'due to' something negative.

Dictionary

〜せいで

This shows a reason for something bad. It means 'because of' or 'due to' something negative.

N3 KMT4NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedFormal Reason And CauseGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + せいでPrimary

い-Adjective + せいで

な-Adjective + な + せいで

Noun + の + せいで

This shows a reason for something bad. It means 'because of' or 'due to' something negative.

交通渋滞のせいで、会議に遅刻しました。

I was late for the meeting due to the traffic jam.

PolitePastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeTravel & Transportation Work & Career

勉強しなかったせいで、試験に落ちてしまった。

I ended up failing the exam because I didn't study.

CasualPastNegativeClause InitialDeclarativeEducation

最近忙しいせいで、全然寝られていない。

Because I've been busy lately, I haven't been able to sleep at all.

NeutralProgressiveAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeDaily Life Medicine & Health

彼が頑固なせいで、話が少しも進まない。

The discussion isn't progressing at all because he is stubborn.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology Family & Relationships

君が余計なことを言うせいで、彼女が怒ってしまったじゃないか。

She got angry because you said something unnecessary, didn't she?!

CasualPastAffirmativeMid SentenceEmphaticFamily & Relationships

This phrase points a finger. It says someone or something is to blame. It is not just a simple 'because'.

This phrase is different from "~okage de." That phrase means "thanks to" and is for good things. This phrase is also different from "~node" or "~kara." Those phrases are for neutral reasons. This phrase is only for bad reasons.

Don't use this when something good happens. For example, don't say "Because it's sunny, let's play outside."

Often confused with(1)

〜おかげで (sarcastic)

This phrase means 'thanks to you' but in a sarcastic way. You use it when something bad happened because of someone or something.

Contrasts with(5)

〜おかげで

You use this to say something good happened because of someone or something. It means 'thanks to' or 'because of' a good thing.

〜ために

You use this to say why you do something. It shows your goal or purpose.

〜（も）んだから

Used to give a reason or make an excuse, often with a nuance of complaint, justification, or explaining an unavoidable situation. It's a colloquial form of '〜ものだから'.

〜おかげで (sarcastic)

This phrase means 'thanks to you' but in a sarcastic way. You use it when something bad happened because of someone or something.

〜とばっちり

This means you get into trouble because of someone else. You suffer bad things that are not your fault.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

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Dictionary

〜せいで

This shows a reason for something bad. It means 'because of' or 'due to' something negative.

N3 KMT4NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedFormal Reason And CauseGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + せいでPrimary

い-Adjective + せいで

な-Adjective + な + せいで

Noun + の + せいで

This shows a reason for something bad. It means 'because of' or 'due to' something negative.

交通渋滞のせいで、会議に遅刻しました。

I was late for the meeting due to the traffic jam.

PolitePastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeTravel & Transportation Work & Career

勉強しなかったせいで、試験に落ちてしまった。

I ended up failing the exam because I didn't study.

CasualPastNegativeClause InitialDeclarativeEducation

最近忙しいせいで、全然寝られていない。

Because I've been busy lately, I haven't been able to sleep at all.

NeutralProgressiveAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeDaily Life Medicine & Health

彼が頑固なせいで、話が少しも進まない。

The discussion isn't progressing at all because he is stubborn.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology Family & Relationships

君が余計なことを言うせいで、彼女が怒ってしまったじゃないか。

She got angry because you said something unnecessary, didn't she?!

CasualPastAffirmativeMid SentenceEmphaticFamily & Relationships

This phrase points a finger. It says someone or something is to blame. It is not just a simple 'because'.

Don't use this when something good happens. For example, don't say "Because it's sunny, let's play outside."

Often confused with(1)

〜おかげで (sarcastic)

This phrase means 'thanks to you' but in a sarcastic way. You use it when something bad happened because of someone or something.

Contrasts with(5)

〜おかげで

You use this to say something good happened because of someone or something. It means 'thanks to' or 'because of' a good thing.

〜ために

You use this to say why you do something. It shows your goal or purpose.

〜（も）んだから

Used to give a reason or make an excuse, often with a nuance of complaint, justification, or explaining an unavoidable situation. It's a colloquial form of '〜ものだから'.

〜おかげで (sarcastic)

This phrase means 'thanks to you' but in a sarcastic way. You use it when something bad happened because of someone or something.

〜とばっちり

This means you get into trouble because of someone else. You suffer bad things that are not your fault.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜せいで

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(5)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜せいで

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(5)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery