yīn

因

HSK 6Character · Verb · Verb / preposition · Noun · Preposition · Conjunction

follow; rely on; reason; because; surname

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 27 examples
1.

verb

to follow; to continue; to inherit

formal

Formal literary usage, used to describe continuing a tradition, system or custom.

Zhè这
ge个
chuán传
tǒng统
yǐ已
jīng经
yīn因
xún循
le了
jǐ几
bǎi百
nián年
 。

This tradition has been followed for hundreds of years.

Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
de的
guǎn管
lǐ理
mó模
shì式
chén陈
chén陈
xiāng相
yīn因
 ,
quē缺
fá乏
chuàng创
xīn新
 。

This company's management model is rigidly inherited and lacks innovation.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
yī一
wèi味
yīn因
xún循
jiù旧
zhì制
 ,
yào要
yǒng勇
yú于
gǎi改
gé革
 。

We must not blindly follow old systems, we should have the courage to reform.

Yīn因
xún循
shǒu守
jiù旧
de的
sī思
xiǎng想
zǔ阻
ài碍
le了
shè社
huì会
jìn进
bù步
 。

The mindset of rigidly following old ways hinders social progress.

Zhè这
yī一
xí习
sú俗
yīn因
xún循
le了
Táng唐
dài代
de的
chuán传
tǒng统
 。

This custom follows the traditions of the Tang Dynasty.

2.

verb / preposition

to rely on; to base on; to act according to

formal

Formal literary usage, often used in set phrases or formal writing.

Lǎo老
shī师
yīn因
shì势
lì利
dǎo导
 ,
ràng让
xué学
shēng生
men们
fā发
huī挥
le了
zì自
jǐ己
de的
tè特
cháng长
 。

The teacher guided students in line with their strengths to help them develop their talents.

Zhè这
jiā家
cān餐
tīng厅
yīn因
lòu陋
jiù就
jiǎn简
 ,
yòng用
jiǎn简
dān单
de的
shí食
cái材
zuò做
chū出
le了
měi美
wèi味
de的
cài菜
yáo肴
 。

This restaurant made delicious dishes with simple ingredients by working with what they had.

Show 3 more examples
Nóng农
yè业
shēng生
chǎn产
xū需
yào要
yīn因
dì地
zhì制
yí宜
 ,
xuǎn选
zé择
shì适
hé合
dāng当
dì地
de的
zuò作
wù物
 。

Agricultural production needs to adapt to local conditions by choosing crops suitable for the area.

Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
yīn因
rén人
chéng成
shì事
 ,
zì自
jǐ己
bù不
kěn肯
fù付
chū出
nǔ努
lì力
 。

He always relies on others to achieve things and refuses to put in his own effort.

Wǒ我
men们
yīng应
gāi该
yīn因
cái才
shī施
jiào教
 ,
bāng帮
zhù助
měi每
gè个
xué学
shēng生
jìn进
bù步
 。

We should teach students in accordance with their aptitude to help every student progress.

3.

noun

cause; reason; origin

neutral

Neutral usage, refers to the cause or reason behind an event or situation.

Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
de的
yīn因
yóu由
hěn很
fù复
zá杂
 ,
bù不
shì是
sān三
yán言
liǎng两
yǔ语
néng能
shuō说
qīng清
de的
 。

The cause of this matter is very complicated and cannot be explained in a few words.

Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
shì事
chū出
yǒu有
yīn因
 ,
dà大
jiā家
bù不
yào要
wù误
huì会
tā他
le了
 。

There is a reason for this incident, everyone don't misunderstand him.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
men们
xū需
yào要
lǐ理
qīng清
qián前
yīn因
hòu后
guǒ果
 ,
cái才
néng能
zhǎo找
dào到
jiě解
jué决
bàn办
fǎ法
 。

We need to sort out the causes and consequences before we can find a solution.

Tā他
méi没
yǒu有
shuō说
chū出
shì事
qíng情
de的
zhēn真
zhèng正
yīn因
yóu由
 。

He did not reveal the real reason behind the matter.

Zhè这
chǎng场
shì事
gù故
de的
yīn因
yóu由
zhèng正
zài在
diào调
chá查
zhōng中
 。

The cause of this accident is under investigation.

4.

preposition

because of; on account of

neutral

Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, used to introduce the cause of an action or event.

Tā他
yīn因
shēng生
bìng病
qǐng请
jià假
le了
sān三
tiān天
 。

He asked for three days off because he was sick.

Yuán原
jì计
huà划
de的
huì会
yì议
yīn因
gù故
gǎi改
qī期
le了
 。

The originally planned meeting has been rescheduled for unknown reasons.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
yīn因
chí迟
dào到
bèi被
lǎo老
shī师
pī批
píng评
le了
 。

He was criticized by the teacher for being late.

Zhè这
jiā家
diàn店
yīn因
kǒu口
wèi味
dú独
tè特
ér而
shēn深
shòu受
huān欢
yíng迎
 。

This restaurant is very popular because of its unique taste.

Tā她
yīn因
gōng工
zuò作
tài太
máng忙
 ,
méi没
néng能
cān参
jiā加
péng朋
yǒu友
de的
hūn婚
lǐ礼
 。

She was unable to attend her friend's wedding because she was too busy with work.

5.

conjunction

because; since

formal

Used in formal writing and complex sentences to introduce a causal clause, often paired with "所以" to express cause and effect.

Yīn因
zhì治
liáo疗
jí及
shí时
 ,
suǒ所
yǐ以
tā他
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
quán痊
yù愈
le了
 。

Because treatment was timely, he recovered quickly.

Yīn因
shuǐ水
liú流
tài太
jí急
 ,
wǒ我
men们
wú无
fǎ法
guò过
jiāng江
 。

Because the current is too fast, we cannot cross the river.

Show 3 more examples
Yīn因
tiān天
qì气
è恶
liè劣
 ,
háng航
bān班
bèi被
pò迫
qǔ取
xiāo消
le了
 。

The flight was forced to cancel due to severe weather.

Yīn因
shí时
jiān间
yǒu有
xiàn限
 ,
wǒ我
men们
jīn今
tiān天
zhǐ只
néng能
tǎo讨
lùn论
dì第
yī一
gè个
yì议
tí题
 。

Because time is limited, we can only discuss the first topic today.

Yīn因
jīng经
yàn验
bù不
zú足
 ,
tā他
zài在
bǐ比
sài赛
zhōng中
fàn犯
le了
yī一
xiē些
cuò错
wù误
 。

He made some mistakes in the competition because he lacked experience.

6.

noun

Yin (surname)

neutral

Used as a family name, mainly in Chinese mainland and overseas Chinese communities.

Wǒ我
de的
lǎo老
shī师
xìng姓
Yīn因
 ,
dà大
jiā家
kě可
yǐ以
jiào叫
tā他
Yīn因
lǎo老
shī师
 。

My teacher's surname is Yin, you can call him Teacher Yin.

Yīn因
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
yī一
wèi位
zhù著
míng名
de的
lì历
shǐ史
xué学
jiā家
 。

Mr. Yin is a famous historian.