因 yīn — cause, because · English

因

yīn

cause, because

At a glance · 因

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

因字小篆从囗从大，会意为人就席、凭借，本义为依靠、因袭，引申为原因。甲骨文未见。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

因本义为凭借、依据，引申为原因、因为。

Structure

会意字，从囗（席）从大（人），表示人安于其所因。

At a glance

Pinyinyīn

Radical囗

Strokes6

UnicodeU+56E0

Character type会意

Theme虚词

Six languages, one character

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English cause, because Yin is an associative character of a person on a mat, meaning to rely on and, by extension, cause and because.

Français cause, parce que Yin est un caractère associatif d'une personne sur une natte, signifiant s'appuyer et, par extension, cause et parce que.

Español causa, porque Yin es un carácter asociativo de una persona sobre una estera, que significa apoyarse y, por extensión, causa y porque.

العربية سبب، لأن يين حرف تركيبي لشخص على حصيرة، يعني الاعتماد، ومنه السبب ولأن.

Русский причина, потому что Инь — ассоциативный знак человека на циновке, означающий опираться и, далее, причину и «потому что»

Common words

因为yīn wèibecause
原因yuán yīnreason

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