direct cause; proximate cause
Technical term used in fields such as law, medicine, and risk analysis to distinguish the immediate trigger from underlying factors. Often contrasted with 至近要因 (proximate cause) or 間接要因 (indirect cause).
See also: 至近要因
The direct cause of the accident was the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
感染症の直接要因は病原体への曝露である。
The direct cause of an infectious disease is exposure to the pathogen.
Often used synonymously with 直接要因 in some contexts, but 至近要因 can emphasize the most immediate or closest cause in a causal chain.
Refers to an indirect or underlying cause, contrasting with the direct trigger.
Compound of 直接 (direct) + 要因 (cause, factor). The term is a modern technical coinage, likely influenced by English 'direct cause' or 'proximate cause'.