N3204/219

せいで

Noun + のせいでVerb (short past) + せいでい-adjective (short) + せいでな-adjective + な + せいで

Meanings

  • Because of
  • Due to
  • Blame (someone/something) for a negative result
  • As a result of

About this pattern

Explanation

The expression せいで attaches to a cause that leads to a negative result. It often carries blame or fault attribution, meaning the following outcome happened due to that cause. It is commonly used with concrete causes like weather, health, or someone’s actions. When you attach the cause to a noun, you typically use のせいで; with verbs or adjectives you attach せいで directly to the plain form (past for actions that already occurred). The nuance is that the speaker sees the cause as responsible for the unwanted outcome.

Learn in context

Example sentences

雨のせいで試合が中止になった。

The rain caused the game to be canceled.

彼のせいで約束に遅れた。

I was late for the appointment because of him.

雨が降ったせいで道が混んでいた。

The rain caused the roads to be crowded.

体調が悪いせいで今日は休みます。

I’m taking today off because I’m feeling unwell.

工事のせいで駅までの道が閉鎖されている。

Because of the construction, the road to the station is closed.