原因 (yuányīn) — Reason in Mandarin
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#396 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
原因 is pronounced yuányīn. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
zhè shì nǐ chídào de yuányīn ma?
Is this the reason you were late?
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 原因 mean?+
原因 (yuányīn) means "Reason" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 原因?+
原因 is pronounced yuányīn. It uses the tone 2 (rising), then the tone 1 (high flat). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 原因 in Mandarin?+
原因 is the #396 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 原因 fits
Every HSK 4 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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