Kanji 因 cause, factor, be associated with 果 fruit, reward, carry out 縁 affinity, relation, connection Related words 因いん 果が 因果 is the more common term for cause and effect or karma, while 因果因縁 is a heavier, more emphatic yojijukugo often implying inevitable retribution.
因いん 縁ねん 因縁 can refer to fate, connection, or a pretext; 因果因縁 combines it with 因果 to stress the chain of causation and karmic consequences.
Etymology A yojijukugo combining 因果 (cause and effect, karma) and 因縁 (hetu and pratyaya, direct and indirect causes, fate). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is used to emphasize the Buddhist concept of karmic retribution.
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