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This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

因

Reading

Kana: いん
Romaji: in
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

noun
1

cause; factor

2

hetu (direct cause, esp. as opposed to indirect conditions)

(Buddhist term)
See also: 縁 (reading えん, entry #5)
3

the basis of one's argument (in hetuvidya)

See also: 因明

Kanji

因
Readings: イン、 よ.る、 ちな.む
Meanings: cause, factor, be associated with, depend on, be limited to

Example Sentences

何(なに)が原因(げんいん)ですか。
➥What's the cause?
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事故(じこ)の原因(げんいん)は不明(ふめい)だ。
➥The cause of the accident is unknown.
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親(おや)の因果(いんが)が子(こ)に報(むく)いる。
➥The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children.
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原因(げんいん)を明(あき)らかにする。
➥Clear up the cause.
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彼(かれ)の死因(しいん)はガンだった。
➥He died of cancer.
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死因(しいん)は心臓(しんぞう)発作(ほっさ)だった。
➥The cause of death was a heart attack.
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縁

因、 便

Readings

Kana: よすが、よすか
Romaji: yosuga, yosuka
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

noun
1

something to rely on; aid; clue; way; means

2

someone to rely on; relative

3

reminder; memento

Kanji

縁
Readings: エン、 -ネン、 ふち、 ふちど.る、 ゆかり、 よすが、 へり、 えにし
Meanings: affinity, relation, connection, edge, border, verge, brink
因
Readings: イン、 よ.る、 ちな.む
Meanings: cause, factor, be associated with, depend on, be limited to
便
Readings: ベン、 ビン、 たよ.り
Meanings: convenience, facility, excrement, feces, letter, chance

Example Sentences

縁(えん)は異(こと)なもの。
➥Marriages are made in heaven.
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猫(ねこ)はトラと近(きん)縁(えん)である。
➥Cats are related to tigers.
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彼(かれ)は縁(えん)の下(した)の力持(ちからも)ちだ。
➥He is an unsung hero.
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縁組(えんぐみ)は天(てん)でなされる。
➥Marriage is made in heaven.
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７は縁起(えんぎ)のいい番号(ばんごう)だ。
➥Seven is a lucky number.
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金(きん)の切(き)れ目(め)が縁(えん)の切(き)れ目(め)。
➥The end of money is the end of love.
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由

因、 縁

Reading

Kana: よし
Romaji: yoshi
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

noun
1

reason; significance; cause

2

piece of information that one has heard; I hear that ...; it is said that ...

Note: Only 由

Kanji

由
Readings: ユ、 ユウ、 ユイ、 よし、 よ.る
Meanings: wherefore, a reason
因
Readings: イン、 よ.る、 ちな.む
Meanings: cause, factor, be associated with, depend on, be limited to
縁
Readings: エン、 -ネン、 ふち、 ふちど.る、 ゆかり、 よすが、 へり、 えにし
Meanings: affinity, relation, connection, edge, border, verge, brink

Example Sentences

思想(しそう)は自由(じゆう)だ。
➥Thought is free.
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火災(かさい)の理由(りゆう)は何(なに)か。
➥What is the cause of the fire?
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自由(じゆう)にお持(も)ち下(くだ)さい。
➥Please take one.
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俺(おれ)は自由(じゆう)な男(おとこ)。
➥I'm a free man.
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人々(ひとびと)は自由(じゆう)を愛(あい)する。
➥People love freedom.
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経由地(けいゆち)はどこですか。
➥Where does it stop over?
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