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なぜなら (nazenara) Japanese meaning: because | Kotomora

なぜなら

な

ぜ

な

ら

Common word›JLPTN3›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

because; the reason is

usually written using kana alone

Used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a reason or explanation, often followed by から or のだ.

なぜなら、彼かれはまだ子こ供どもだからです。

Because he is still a child.

私わたしはその計けい画かくに反はん対たいです。なぜなら、費ひ用ようが高たかすぎるからです。

I'm against the plan, because the cost is too high.

Usage patterns

なぜなら〈事こと〉からだthe reason is that ~ (explains a preceding statement)
彼かれは今日きょう休やすんだ。なぜなら熱ねつがあったからだ。
He took the day off. That's because he had a fever.
なぜなら〈事こと〉のだthe reason is that ~ (formal written explanation)
この計けい画かくは実じつ現げん不ふ可か能のうだ。なぜなら予よ算さんが足たりないのだ。
This plan is unworkable, because there isn't enough budget.

Grammar

なぜなら～からThe reason is that...N3

Kanji

何what
故happenstance, especially, intentionally

Related words· 8

からN5
から attaches directly to the end of a clause to give a reason in casual speech, while 何故なら starts a new sentence and is more formal.
ので
ので gives an objective reason mid-sentence and is mildly formal, whereas 何故なら opens a sentence to emphatically explain a preceding statement.
というのはN3
というのは also introduces an explanation for something just said, but feels a bit more conversational than the formal 何故なら.
なぜならば
なぜならば is a more formal, emphatic written form, while なぜなら is the everyday spoken version of the same conjunction.

Show 4 more

なぜかというとN3
なぜなら is a more formal, written conjunction for 'because', while なぜかと言うと is a more conversational way of introducing the reason.
というのもN3
なぜなら is more formal and typical of written or structured explanations, while というのも is slightly more conversational and neutral in tone.
何なにしろN2
なぜなら is a formal, logical connector for giving a reason, whereas 何しろ is more colloquial and emphatic in tone.
なにせ
なぜなら is a formal, logical connector meaning 'because' used mainly in writing, while なにせ is colloquial and often carries a nuance of 'after all, as you'd expect'.

Word family

なぜならば
because; the reason is

Etymology

Compound of なぜ (why) and なら (if it is). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it functions as a fixed conjunction meaning 'because'.