なぜならば

な

ぜ

な

ら

ば

Common word

Meanings

1

conjunction

because; the reason is

usually written using kana alone

Formal or written conjunction used to state a reason explicitly. Often followed by から or のだ. In casual speech, なぜなら is more common, and だって is used informally.

なぜならば、それは事じ実じつだからです。

Because that is a fact.

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

I am against the plan, because it costs too much.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉。なぜならば、〈事こと〉からだused to introduce the reason for a preceding statement
彼かれは試し験けんに合ごう格かくした。なぜならば、毎まい日にち勉べん強きょうしていたからだ。
He passed the exam. That's because he studied every day.
〈事こと〉。なぜならば、〈事こと〉のであるformal way to state a reason in writing, often ending in のである
この計けい画かくは失しっ敗ぱいする。なぜならば、資し金きんが不ふ足そくしているのである。

Kanji

何what
故happenstance, especially, intentionally

Related words

なぜならN3
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.
だってN3
だって is a casual, conversational way to say 'because', whereas なぜならば is formal and used mainly in writing or speeches.
というのはN3
というのは introduces a clarifying reason or explanation in a slightly softer, more discursive way than the formal なぜならば.

Don't confuse with

なぜN5
何故 (なぜ) is the question word 'why', while なぜならば is a conjunction meaning 'because', not a question.

Etymology

Compound of なぜ (why) + ならば (if, conditional form of なり). Literally 'if it is why', it developed into a conjunction meaning 'because'.

This plan will fail; the reason is that funds are insufficient.