the reason why; why it is so
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
the reason why something is so; the cause or principle behind it
Commonly used in the set phrase '知其然而不知其所以然' (knowing that it is so but not knowing why it is so). Often follows the verb '知' (to know) or '说出' (to state).
Zhī知
qí其
rán然
ér而
bù不
zhī知
qí其
suǒ所
yǐ以
rán然
。
He knows that it is so, but does not know why it is so.
Tā他
shuō说
le了
bàn半
tiān天
hái还
shi是
méi没
shuō说
chū出
gè个
suǒ所
yǐ以
rán然
lái来
。
He talked for a long time but still failed to explain the reason behind it.
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Wǒ我
men们
bù不
jǐn仅
yào要
zhī知
dào道
qí其
rán然
，
gèng更
yào要
zhī知
dào道
qí其
suǒ所
yǐ以
rán然
。
We must know not only that it is so, but also why it is so.
Lǎo老
shī师
xiáng详
xì细
jiě解
shì释
le了
zhè这
zhǒng种
xiàn现
xiàng象
de的
suǒ所
yǐ以
rán然
。
The teacher explained in detail the reason behind this phenomenon.