Causal: 鉴于 (In View Of / Considering)
因果复句：鉴于……，……
Use 鉴于 to introduce formal justifications based on observed facts or circumstances
鉴于 means "in view of / considering / given that." It introduces an observed fact or circumstance that justifies the decision or conclusion in the main clause.
鉴于 is highly formal and is used in official documents, business communications, legal texts, and formal speeches. It carries an authoritative tone — the speaker has "examined" (鉴) the situation and is now acting accordingly.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Causal: 鉴于 (In View Of / Considering) (因果复句：鉴于……，……)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 因果复句：鉴于……，…… pattern
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Understanding 因果复句：鉴于……，……
The character 鉴 means "mirror / to examine / to inspect." So 鉴于 literally means "having examined / in view of." This makes it a perfect word for formal justifications: you present the evidence or circumstances (the 鉴于 clause), then announce the decision. 鉴于他的表现良好，学校决定恢复他的学籍 (In view of his good performance, the school has decided to reinstate him). This pattern is the language of authority — schools, companies, governments, and courts use it. Learning 鉴于 gives you access to formal Chinese communication and helps you understand official documents.
Key Points
- 鉴于 (jiànyú) = "in view of / considering / given that" — highly formal.
- Always introduces the reason/evidence BEFORE the conclusion/decision.
- Common in: official notices, business decisions, legal rulings, academic assessments.
- The main clause often contains decision verbs: 决定, 建议, 要求, 同意.
- 鉴于此 (jiànyú cǐ) = "in view of this" — useful for referencing previously stated facts.
- Do not use 鉴于 in casual conversation — it sounds bureaucratic.
- Similar formal connectors: 基于 (jīyú, based on), 有鉴于此 (yǒu jiànyú cǐ, in light of this).
Chinese official communications have a distinctive style called 公文语言 (gōngwén yǔyán) — official document language. 鉴于 is a cornerstone of this register. Understanding it helps you navigate bureaucratic Chinese, from university notices to government policies.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
鉴于他的表现良好，学校决定允许他回来上课。
In view of his good performance, the school has decided to allow him to return to class.
鉴于他在处理此类问题上毫无经验，公司决定派人协助他。
Considering his complete lack of experience with this type of issue, the company decided to send someone to assist him.
鉴于目前的经济形势，我们建议暂缓投资。
Given the current economic situation, we recommend postponing the investment.
鉴于天气原因，比赛推迟到下周举行。
Due to weather conditions, the competition has been postponed to next week.
Official announcement style
鉴于此，我们需要重新制定计划。
In light of this, we need to reformulate our plan.
鉴于您多年来的杰出贡献，特授予您荣誉称号。
In recognition of your outstanding contributions over the years, we hereby bestow upon you an honorary title.
Common Mistakes
Using 鉴于 for personal, casual matters sounds absurdly formal — like writing an official memo about going to bed. Reserve it for institutional or formal contexts.
鉴于 introduces the reason and must come BEFORE the decision clause, not after it.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Whenever you read official Chinese notices (school announcements, government policies), look for 鉴于 — it appears constantly.
Use 鉴于此 as a bridge between paragraphs in formal essays — it elegantly connects evidence to conclusions.
Pair 鉴于 with strong decision verbs: 决定, 建议, 要求, 同意, 批准.
If 鉴于 feels too formal, use 考虑到 (kǎolǜ dào, considering) as a slightly less formal alternative.
Homework
Write three formal announcements or memos using 鉴于 — one for a school, one for a company, and one for a government notice. Each should clearly state the circumstance and the resulting decision.