理由(=riyuu):How to make excuses & explain reasons in Japanese (Request Lesson)
「カレシが逃げたのは私が美しすぎたからよね。」
=Kareshi ga nigeta no wa watashi ga utsukushi sugita kara yone.
=The reason why he left me was because I was too beautiful…
「それとも私がモテすぎたせいかなあ。」
=Sore tomo watashi ga motesugita sei kanaa.
=Or maybe it is because I was too popular with the boys…
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Cześć! 皆さん、今日は！=Minasan Konnichiwa!, Hello everyone!
This lesson is for my lovely blog student + Twitter follower, D-san from Poland!
*How to make excuses using せいで(=seide), のために(=no tame ni) or から(=kara) etc.
Is it going to be a long lesson? We’ll see. Let’s start!
さあ始めましょう！=Saa hajimemashou! Let’s get started!!!
First, how do we say “an excuse” in Japanese?
*言い訳(=iiwake)=an excuse
verb form : 言い訳する=iiwake suru=to make excuses, to defend oneself with excuses
Ex. もう言い訳ばかりしないで！
=Mou iiwake bakari shinaide! (for women)
=Enough excuses!
Ex. 言い訳ばかりしないで下さい。
=IIwake bakari shinai de kudasai.
=Please stop making excuses!
or
*弁解=benkai=excuse (more formal or literal)
verb form : 弁解する=benkai suru=to make excuses, to defend, to plead,to rationalize
These two are excuses.
But if you have a real reason, we call it
理由=riyuu=reason, cause
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
How to excuse or give a reason in Japanese.
1) 〜のせいで=~ no seide= because of ~, caused by ~, to indicate, one’s fault+negative result
Usually to blame on someone/something for some negative result. (emotion involved.)
Basic pattern : reason/cause +(の)せいで(=no seide)+ result (what happened)
Ex. reason : 渋滞=juutai=traffic →caused...→遅刻=chikoku= being late
渋滞のせいで遅刻した。
=Juutai no sei de chikoku shita.
=I was late because traffic was bad. (Literally: Due to a traffic jam I was late.)
(more examples) !shitamite!
Ex. マギーのせいで転んだ。
=Maggie no sei de koronda.
=Maggie made me fall down./It was Maggie’s fault that I fell down. (True story 
: from Yukari)
Ex. ストのせいで飛行機がキャンセルになった。
=Suto no sei de hikouki ga kyanseru ni natta.
=My flight was cancelled because of the strike.
When you accuse someone, you can also use せい=sei (emotion involved)
Basic pattern : result + (は=wa)+ cause (Ex. person’s name,action)+(の)せい(=no sei)+です／だ。(=desu/da.)
Ex. 僕が頭が悪いのはお父さんのせいだよ！
=Boku ga atama ga warui no wa otousan no sei dayo!
=I am stupid because of my dad. / It’s my dad’s fault that I am stupid.
Ex. これは、あたなのせいです！
=Kore wa anata no sei desu!
=This is your fault!
Do you want stronger language? Try the following!
Ex. みんな、あんたのせいだ！Very strong (used by men)
=Minna Anta no sei da!
=Everything is your fault.
Ex. お前のせいだ！The stronges. Very rough (used by men)
=Omae no sei da!
=It’s your fault!
2) 〜のお陰で=~ no okage de ~+negative or positive result
=because of ~, caused by~, to indicate whose fault something is, thanks to~+negative or positive result
(emotion involved.)
Ex. 猛暑のお陰で野菜が高くなった。
=Mousho no okage de yasai ga takaku natta.
=Because of the heat wave, the price of vegetables has gone up.
Ex. 風邪をひいたお陰で一日寝てるはめになった。
=Kaze wo hiita okage de ichinichi neteru hame ni natta.
=Because I caught a cold, I ended up staying in bed all day long.
Note : You can switch お陰で(=okage de) and せいで(=seide) in the above examples.
!shitamite!
*猛暑のせいで…
=mousho no seide
=Because of heat wave
*風邪をひいたせいで..
=Kaze wo hiita sei de
=Because I had cold,
Note : Remember 〜のお陰で(=~ no okage de) can be used for grateful feelings as well.
＊Ex. マギー先生のお陰で日本語が上手になった。
=Maggie sensei no okage de nihongo ga jouzu ni natta.
=Thanks to Maggie, my Japanese has improved. !naiteyorokobu!
variation : お陰様で(=Okage sama de)
*お陰様ですっかりよくなりました。
=Okage sama de sukkari yoku narimashita.
=Thanks to you/God, I feel much better now.
3) (noun)で (=de) because of, due to~+result
*渋滞で遅れました。
=Juutai de okuremashita.
=I was late because of the traffic.
*風邪でクラスを休みました。
=Kaze de kurasu wo yasumimashita.
=Because I had cold, I skipped the class.
Compare to 1) & 2) there is no emotional blaming here. Just implying inevitable factual cause.
The same thing here with a verb. !shitamite!
4) (verb)ので=~ node : Because ~+result
Ex. 雨が降ったので今日はサッカーの練習はありません。
=Amega futta node kyouwa sakka no renshuu wa arimasen.
=Because it rained today, there is no soccer practice.
Ex. 忙しかったので宿題ができませんでした。
=Isogashikatta node shukudai ga dekimasen deshita.
=I was busy so I couldn’t do the homework.
Ex. 今日は頭が痛いのでクラスを休みます。
=Kyou wa atama ga itai node kurasu wo yasumimasu.
=I have a headache so I will skip class today.
↓(past tense)
Ex. 昨日、頭が痛かったのでクラスを休みました。
=Kinou atama ga itakatta node kurasu wo yasumimashita.
=Because I had a headache I skipped class yesterday.
Ex.頭が悪いのでわかりません。
=Atama ga warui node wakarimasen.
=I don’t understand because I am stupid.
Note: Usually we give the reason for something, and then continue on with the sentence and explain the result.
However, sometimes – as I wrote in my ちょっと＋曖昧=Chotto& Aimai lesson — we don’t finish the sentence because the result is negative. So if a sentence is unfinished we can safely assume the result is negative.
For example:
「どうして遅刻したの？」
=Doushite chikoku shitano?
=How come you are late?
「雨が降っていたので…（遅れました。）
=Ame ga futte ita node..(okuremashita)
=It rained so … (I was late.)
「バスが来なかったので…（遅れました。）
=Basu ga konakatta node..(okuremashita)
=Because the bus didn’t come so… (I was late.)
5) Also we say,
ものですから=monodesu kara
↓
もので=monode
or
もんで=monde (more casual)
are used to explain the reason as well.
*雨が降っていたものですから…（遅れました。）
=Ame ga futte ita monodesukara..(okuremashita)
=Because it was raining so… (I was late.)
*雨が降っていたもので…（遅れました。）
=Ame ga futte ita monode..(okuremashita)
=Because it was raining so… (I was late.)
*雨が降っていたもんで…（遅れました。）(more casual.)
=Ame ga futte ita monde… (okuremashita)
=‘Cause it was raining so… (I was late.)
6) ~から=~kara : because ….(reason) When you explain the reason
Ex. やることがなかったから先に帰った。
=Yarukoto ga nakatta kara saki ni kaetta.
=Because there was nothing to do, I left earlier.
Ex. 1) 今、忙しいから出来ません。
=Ima isogashii kara dekimasen.
=I am busy now so I can’t do it.
When you compare this phrase with
Ex. 2) 今、忙しいので出来ません。
=Ima isogashii node dekimasen.
=I am busy now so I can’t do it.
Which one do you think is more polite?
They mean the same but Ex. 2) sounds more polite and mature because から=kara is for subjective reason and could be emotional while ので=node is more objective and sounds logical cause sounds inevitable.
The same thing here:
Ex.1) お金もっていないから買えません。
=Okane motte inai kara kaemasen.
=I don’t have money with me, so I can’t buy it.
Ex.2) お金を持っていないので買えません。
=Okane wo motte inai node kaemasen,
=Since I don’t have money with me, I can’t buy it.
Ex.2) with ので(=node) sounds more polite and mature because it is more factual reason.
7) ~の為(に)=~no tame (ni) =because of ~, due to~
Ex. 台風の為、今日は全てのクラスは休講です。
=Taifuu no tame kyou wa subete no kurasu wa kyuukou desu.
=Due to typhoon, all the classes are canceled today.
Ex. 雨の為、バスが遅れた。
＝Ame no tame basu ga okureta.
=Because of rain, the bus came late.
Note :
What is the difference between 雨のせいで(=ame no seide), 雨のお陰で(=Ame no okage de) and 雨の為(=Ame no tame)
In this case, 雨の為に(=Ame no tameni) is just a statement and sounds flat or formal while せいで(=seide) and お陰で(=okagede) involves more feelings.
Ex.子供が病気の為、今日は早引きをさせて下さい。
=Kodomo ga byouki no tame kyou wa hayabiki wo sasete kudasai.
=Since my child is sick, please let me leave earlier today.
You can also say,
*子供が病気なので
=Kodomo ga byouki nanode
*子供が病気なもんで
=Kodomo ga byoukina monde (This is very casual. It is also a dialect in certain regions in Japan)
<How do you say “because”>
If you look it up in a dictionary you will find
because = 何故ならば=nazenaraba
Actually so many Japanese students will translate “because” into 何故ならば（=nazenaraba） in English class.
For example, your brother saw you eat his snack.
「どうして私のお菓子を食べたの？」
=Doushite watashi no okasi wo tabeta no?
=Why did you eat my snack?
!shitamite!
And you want to tell him
“Because I was hungry.”
If we see this phrase, we would translate
「何故ならばお腹がすいていたからです。」
=Naze naraba onakaga suite ita kara desu.
But NOBODY says that in conversation.
In casual conversation, we use だって=datte＋もん(=mon) or もの(=mono) between family or friends. (It is mainly used by girls or kids. Mature people don’t use it.)
Ex. だってお腹がすいて(い）たんだもん。
=Datte onakaga suite(i)tan damon.
Ex. だってあなたのこと好きなんだもの。(for girls.)
=Datte anata no koto sukinan da mono.
=Because I like you.
Let’s look at a more formal situation.
どうしてその株を買ったのですか？
=Doushite sono kabu wo katta no desu ka?
=Why did you buy the stock?
You want to say,
“Because I heard the company has been making a lot of profit.”
何故ならばその会社が利益をかなり出していると聞いたからです。
=Naze naraba sono kaisha ga rieki wo kanari dashite iruto kiita kara desu.
It’s fine to use 何故ならば= “nazenaraba” in this situation because it is formal. There are people who might say this and we actually hear this kind of line not just in TV dramas but also in formal situations in real life.
However, a lot of time, we skip 何故ならば= “nazenaraba” and express the reason with the ending から=kara.
We also use というのは (=to iu no wa) when we explain the reason. It is not necessary to use this if someone asks you a reason for something. We use it when we explain our own actions.
★と言(い）うのは+ reason+からです。
=toiu nowa+ reason+kara desu.
=It is because + reason
★と言(い）いますのは＋reason+からです。
=to iimasu nowa+ reason+kara desu. (more polite)
=It is because + reason
Ex. 昨日、A社の株を買いました。と言(い）いますのはその会社が利益をかなり出していると聞いたからです。
=Sakujitsu ei sha no kabu wo kaimashita. To ii masu no wa sono kaisha ga rieki wo kanari dashite iruto kiita kara desu.
=I bought stock in Company “A”. It is because I heard that company has been making a lot of profit.
*それは(=sore wa) + reason+ だからです/だ。(=dakara desu/da.)
=It’s (or That’s) because + reason
Ex. 「彼はどうしてそんなに私に意地悪するのかしら？」
=Karewa doushite sonnani watashi ni ijiwaru suru no kashira? (female talk)
=I wonder how come he is so mean to me?
「それはあなた／君が好きだからだよ。」（君=kimi=mainly used by men.)
=Sore wa anata /kimi ga suki dakara dayo.
=That’s because he likes you.
(more casual situation)
*(っ)て言(い）うのは＋reason+から/もん and etc.
=(t)te iu nowa+reason+kara/mon and etc.
=It’s because + reason
Ex. もうあの店には行かない！って言(い）うのはちょっとこの間、あそこでもめたからなんだ。
=Mou ano mise ni wa ikanai! Tte iu nowa chotto kono aida asoko de mometa kara nan da.
=I’m not going to go back to the store (restaurant, bar..). ‘Cause I had some fight (trouble) there the other day.
<Other techniques to make an excuse or explain a reason.>
•だから=dakara=That’s why, So, anyway, therefore
Patterns :
1)•だから(=dakara)+reason+result + (なん)です。(=(nan)desu。)
2)•だから(=dakara)+reason+ result+(なん)だ。(=(nan)da。) (colloquial)
3)•だから(=dakara)+reason+ result+だって。(=datte) (colloquial)
4)•だから(=dakara)+reason+ result+なの。(=nano) (colloquial/for girls)
Ex. 1)医者から煙草を注意されました。だからもう２週間も吸ってないん（or の）です。
=Isha kara tabako wo chuui saremashita. Dakara mou nishuukan mo sutte inain (or no) desu.
=Doctor warned me not to smoke. That’s why I haven’t smoked for two whole weeks.
Ex.2) 彼、別れたんだって。だから今がチャンスなんだ。
=Kare wakaretan datte. Dakara ima ga chansu nanda.
=I heard he broke up (with her). So I have a good chance now!
Ex.3) 「どうして彼と別れたの？」
=Doushite kare to wakareta no?
=How come you broke up with him?
「だから、もう一緒にいても楽しくなかったからだって(言ってるでしょ）！」
=Dakara mou issho ni ite mo tanoshiku nakatta kara datte(itteru desho)!
=(I told you already) ‘Cause it was no longer fun to be with him!
Ex. 4) だからあなたと買い物に行くのは嫌なの！ (female talk)
=Dakara anata to kaimono ni iku nowa iya nano!
=That is why I don’t want to go shopping with you!
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Practice time!!! !HI!
OK, now it is your turn! Try to explain the reasons or make excuses, OK?
When someone ask you for a reason, we don’t always use causative particles. But try to use some for your practice. Answer is not just one. If you want me to correct your sentences, just leave them in the comment section below.
(Let me repeat this one last time. When you give not favorable reason to people, we don’t finish the sentence and make it sound vague so that you don’t repeat the negative result.)
Q1「どうして昨日、来なかったの？」
=Doushite kinou konakatta no?
=How come you didn’t come yesterday?
Because you had a date.
デートがあったから(行けなかったの。)
=Deito ga atta kara (ikenakatta no.)
Q.2.「明日、どこかにドライブしない？」
=Ashita tokoka ni doraibu shinai?
=Do you wanna go for a drive tomorrow?
No! Because you are busy.
Ex. 明日は忙しいので/から…(行けません。）< /p>
=Ashita wa isogashii node/kara…(ikemasen)
Q.3「僕の携帯(の中)どうして見たの？」
=Boku no keitai (no naka) doushite mita no?
=Why did you look to see what was in my cell phone?
You can’t explain why exactly but you felt uneasy.
Ex.なんか不安だったから(見ちゃった。)
=Nanka fuan dattakara (michatta.)
Q.4「何故、遊んでくれないの？」
=Naze asonde kurenaino?
=How come you don’t play with me?
Because you have been busy with exams lately.
Ex.最近試験で忙しいので／から…(遊んであげられない。）
=Saikin shiken de isogashii node/kara….(asonde agerarenai.)
Ex.だって、最近試験で忙しいんだもん／もの。
=Datte saikin shiken de isogashiin da mon/mono.
Q.5「どうして遅刻したんですか？」
=Doushite chikoku shitan desu ka? =How come you were late?
Due to the traffic.
Ex.渋滞の為、遅刻しました。
=Juutai no tame chikoku shimashita.
Ex.渋滞していたから/ので…(遅刻しました。)
=Juutai shitei ita kara/node…(chikoku shimashita.)
Q.6「結婚式の招待状の返事がまだなんだけど…」
=Kekkonshiki no shoutaijyou no henji ga mada nandakedo…
=I haven’t got your reply for the wedding invitation yet…
Because you don’t know your schedule yet.
Ex.まだスケジュールがわかっていないので..(返事が出せませんでした。）
=Mada sukejuuru ga wakatte inai node (henji ga dasemasen deshita.)
Ex.まだスケジュールがわからないもので… =Mada sukejuuru ga wakaranai monode..
Ex.まだスケジュールがわからないから…(返事が出せませんでした。） ＝Mada sukejuuru ga wakaranai kara (henji ga dasemasen deshita.)
Q.7 「この間貸したお金まだ返してもらってないんだけど…」
=Kono aida kashita okane mada kaeshite moratte nain dakedo. =You haven’t returned the money I loaned you the other day yet.
Because you haven’t got paid yet.
Ex.まだ給料が出ていないので…(返せません(でした)。）
=Mada kyuuryou ga dete inai node (kaesemasen (deshita)).
Ex.まだ給料が出ていない為、返せません(でした)。 =Mada kyuuryou ga dete inai tame kaesemasen (deshita).
Ex.まだ給料が出ていないもので…(返せません(でした)。）
=Mada kyuuryou ga dete inai monode…
Ex.まだ給料が出ていないから…(返せない。）
=Mada kyuuryou ga dete inai kara… (kaesenai).
Q.8 「この間、頼んだ件、どうなりましたか？」
=Kono aida tanonda ken dounarimashita ka? =What happened to the matter I asked you about the other day?
You haven’t done it yet because you are still waiting for the client’s answer.
Ex.取引先の返事がまだないので…(まだやっていません。）
=Torihikisaki no henji ga mada nai node… (mada yatte imasen.)
Ex.取引先の返事がまだないから..(まだやっていません。）
=Torihikisaki no henji ga mada nai kara… mada yatte imasen.)
Ex.取引先の返事がまだないものですから… (まだやっていません。）
=Torihikisaki no henji ga mada nai mono desu kara…mada yatte imasen.)
Q.9 「どうしたの？顔色が悪いけど。」
=Doushita no? Kaoiro ga warui kedo.
=What’s wrong? You look pale.
You drank too much last night.
Ex.昨日飲み過ぎたから／ので／の。
=Kinou nomisugita kara/node/no.
=I drank too much yesterday.
Q.10 「今日、車で来なかったの？」
=Kyou kuruma de konakatta no? =You didn’t come by car today?
Because your brother took the car when you were asleep.
Ex.寝ている間に兄が先に（車に）乗っていってしまったので/から、(車で来れませんでした)。
=Nete iru aida ni ani ga saki ni (kuruma ni) notte itte shimatta node/kara (kurumade koremasen deshita.)
Ex.寝てる間に、兄貴が先に(車に)乗ってちゃったからさあ。(very casual)
=Nete iru aida ni aniki ga saki ni (kuruma ni) nottechatta kara saa..
Q.11. 「どうしてそんなことをしたの？」
=Doushite sonna koto wo shitano? =Why did you do such a thing!
“It’s your fault!”
Ex. あなた／あんた／君／お前のせいだ／です！
=Anata/anta/kimi/omae no sei da/desu!
Q 12. 「どうしてマギーが好きじゃないの？」
=Doushite maggie ga sukija nai no? =How come you don’t like Maggie?
There is no good excuse! :mad: Q.12. 「どうしてそんなにマギーのことが好きなの？」< /span>
=Doushite sonnani Maggie no koto ga suki nano?
=How come you like Maggie so much?
Just because!!=どうしても！(=doushitemo!) 
***************************************************************************
Extra information:
When someone points out your faults and you accept it totally,
•返す言葉もありません。
=Kaesu kotoba mo arimasen.
=I have nothing to say. I can’t make any excuses. (When you accept what other people said.)
•おっしゃる通りです。
=Ossharu toori desu.
=You are quite right.
And if you really did something bad, go check my apology lesson! ごめんなさい＋許して下さい。 
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マギー先生より=Maggie Sensei yori
=From Maggie-Sensei
このサイトに毎日来ない言い訳は何も受け付けませんから。
=Kono saito ni mainichi konai iiwake wa nanimo uketsukemasen kara.
I won’t allow ANY EXCUSES for not coming to visit this site everyday!
Excerpt
9 Responses to “理由(=riyuu):How to make excuses & explain reasons in Japanese (Request Lesson)”
Leave a Reply
@maggiesensei 
Aki on April 21st, 2011
例えば：
どうして宿題をしなかったの？
外で、いい天気から。（遊んだ）
どうして彼のことが好きないよ？あいつはいい人だ！
それは、亀くんはあたしの一つの恋だからだよ。>.>
どう？
Maggie on April 21st, 2011
@Aki
Nice try! OK, I will correct you a little.
外で、いい天気から。（遊んだ）
→いい天気だったから外で遊んだ(の)。
どうして彼のことが好きないよ？
You mean “Why do you like him?” if so
→どうして彼のことが好きなの？
あいつはいい人だ！
When you give a reason,
→（あいつは）いい人だから。
(Remember あいつ is for male speech and it sounds a bit rough. If you use あいつ, いい奴（やつ）だから is more adequate than 人.
the safer way is : (彼は)いい人だから。)
それは、亀くんはあたしの一つの恋だからだよ。
→??? 一つの恋だから？ Can you rephrase it?
Aki on April 21st, 2011
for the second one, I meant:
Why don’t you like this guy? he’s a good guy! (and yeah I put あいつ cause I meant it as a reproach from an older brother/friend or something…) and then the answer was supposed to be:
That’s because Kamekun is my only love.
うん！へへへ ＜３
だから、たぶん、「一つの恋だから？」ｰ>「亀くんのことをばかり好かれるの。」
Maggie on April 21st, 2011
@Aki
OK, then how about
亀君のことだけ好きだから
Someone is in looooove!
Aki on April 21st, 2011
うふ＜３
そうだよね～！うふふふ
Top on August 23rd, 2010
はい！先生！ありがとうございます。
これから練習しますね＾＿＾
Maggie on August 23rd, 2010
@Top-san
Thank you for spotting the mistake. I fixed it.
“neteru hame ni natta” is correct. I must have thought “Um…this sentence is too difficult. I should change it to 寝ていた=neteita. ” and just forgot about fixing the text.
Thank you so much for your nice comment and letting me know your interests. It is very important for me to know what you are interested in. I think studying Japanese from many different sources is a good idea. We don’t always talk formal Japanese which you learn in a textbook (we skip particles, we don’t finish the sentence properly,etc.) and at the same time we don’t always talk like manga characters either. Kansaiben is so much fun to learn. If there is a chance, I would like to make a lesson,too.
As for forming sentences, you have to keep practicing and make lots of mistakes. I can always help you here. Use any comment section. ね！
Top on August 22nd, 2010
Maggie sensei, I have a question about this sentence.
Ex. 風邪をひいたお陰で一日寝てるはめになった。
=Kaze wo hiita okage de ichinichi nete ita.
I notice the difference between the romanji and the actual sentence. Which one should I follow?
-寝てるはめになった or
-nete ita
Top on August 22nd, 2010
Hi Maggie sensei^^
thank you for all your wonderful lessons. I have no idea what level I’m in, but I can read all hiragana and katakana and a couple hundreds of Kanji. Not a lot though. My problems are forming sentences especially complex sentences and having no clue which words to use in a sentence. I would also love to be able to read comics with ease, but the problem is when I study Japanese in regular books, they don’t tell me what real Japanese speak. So your website is truly a gem for me because you make it so fun to learn Japanese.
My goal is to learn a lot of Kanji, to know a lot of useful expressions and slangs (especially in maga^^), to be able to understand complex sentences, to learn Kansai-ben too because a lot of entertainment people on TV shows seem to speak that way.
Sorry for going on and on, but thank you and thank God for your website^^