Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
由于(由於)yóuyú(you2yu2)
由于 (yóu yú) is a conjunction that means 'due to' or 'because of'. It is commonly used to introduce reasons or causes in both spoken and written Chinese. You will often see it in formal contexts, such as reports or presentations, where establishing causality is important.
Strokes8Frequency#1769DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
The use of 由于 reflects the Chinese emphasis on relationships and causality in both language and culture. This is particularly evident in formal communication, which often seeks to clearly outline the reasons behind actions or decisions.
Memory Tip
Think of 由于 as a bridge connecting two ideas: the cause (the 'yóu' part) is like a river flowing into the reason (the 'yú' part) that explains something. Imagine a river carrying news about why something happened, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 由于
yóuyú(you2yu2)
1due to
2as a result of
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 由于
由于Simplified
由於Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#1769Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 由于
Podcast: 由于
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 由于
Usage Notes
While 由于 is formal, it’s often used interchangeably with 因为 (yīn wèi) in everyday conversation, which is more informal. Be careful with the tone; the second character 'yu' should be pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone) to avoid confusion with other words. A common collocation is 由于...的原因 (yóu yú... de yuán yīn), meaning 'the reason is that...'.
HSK Study Tips
As a level 4 HSK word, 由于 connects with other cause-and-effect phrases you may encounter, such as 因为 (because) and 所以 (so). Focus on practicing its use in sentences to strengthen your understanding of logical relationships in Chinese.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 由于 with 因为, using them interchangeably inappropriately. For example, saying '因为天气不好，我们取消了旅行' in a formal report may not be suitable; instead, use '由于天气不好...' for formality.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 由于
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 由于 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
由于 (yóu yú) is a conjunction that means 'due to' or 'because of'. It is commonly used to introduce reasons or causes in both spoken and written Chinese. You will often see it in formal contexts, such as reports or presentations, where establishing causality is important.
When to use 由于
While 由于 is formal, it’s often used interchangeably with 因为 (yīn wèi) in everyday conversation, which is more informal. Be careful with the tone; the second character 'yu' should be pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone) to avoid confusion with other words. A common collocation is 由于...的原因 (yóu yú... de yuán yīn), meaning 'the reason is that...'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 由于 with 因为, using them interchangeably inappropriately. For example, saying '因为天气不好，我们取消了旅行' in a formal report may not be suitable; instead, use '由于天气不好...' for formality.
Write 由于
由
于
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 由于 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 由于
由于 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
