因为 (yīn wèi) — because in Mandarin
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#70 most common word · HSK 2 · CEFR A2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
因为 is pronounced yīn wèi. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Yīn wèi xià yǔ, wǒ bù qù le.
Because it is raining, I'm not going.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 因为 mean?+
因为 (yīn wèi) means "because" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 因为?+
因为 is pronounced yīn wèi. It uses the tone 1 (high flat), then the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 因为 in Mandarin?+
因为 is the #70 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 因为 fits
Every HSK 2 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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