Dictionary › 由于

由于

yóu yú

Old HSK 4 HSK 3.0 level 4 2-character word Traditional 由於

由于 (yóu yú) means "due to". It is an HSK 3.0 level 4 word, and was HSK 4 in the old six-level list.

What 由于 means

1. due to
2. as a result of
3. thanks to
4. owing to
5. since
6. because

How 由于 is used in grammar

由于 is a grammar word. Each link goes to its own section: what it does in that pattern, the structure, three example sentences with pinyin, and the mistake to avoid.

• Prepositions of Cause & Purpose: 由于, 因为, 为了 (HSK 3)
• Formal vs. informal register differences (HSK 4)
• 由于/因为 (formal): due to (HSK 4)
• Preposition 随着 (along with, as) (HSK 5)

The official HSK 3.0 grammar outline lists it at level 4, conjunctions (连接分句或句子); level 4, prepositions (引出原因).

The characters in 由于

• 由yóuto follow; from; because of; due to
• 于yúto go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle

Example sentences

• 由于下雨，野餐泡汤了。
  The picnic was called off because of the rain.
• 公司由于缺乏资本倒闭了。
  Gōngsī yóuyú quēfá zīběn dǎobì le.
  The firm went under due to lack of capital.
• 由于火车延误，我迟到了。
  I was late as a result of the train delay.
• 一些航班由于地震被延误了。
  Yīxiē hángbān yóuyú dìzhèn bèi yánwu le.
  A couple of flights were delayed on account of the earthquake.
• 由于缺水，许多植物干枯了。
  Yóuyú quēshuǐ, xǔduō zhíwù gānkū le.
  Due to the lack of water, many of the plants have withered.
• 由于天气恶劣，飞机延误了。
  Due to bad weather, the plane was late.

Sounds the same

Read yóu yú, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 鱿鱼squid
• 游鱼a fish moving about in water

Where 由于 is taught

In the GraphChinese course it is part of Cause, effect & logic (HSK 4), each one a topic in the dependency graph of HSK 1–6 that opens only once its prerequisites are solid.

Go deeper

• Every HSK 4 word, with the rest of its level.
• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read yóu yú correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.