JLPT N1 Grammar

〜がゆえに (ga yue ni)

〜がゆえに (ga yue ni)
"Because of; due to; owing to"

This expression is used to indicate a reason or cause. It emphasizes that a specific result or situation has arisen directly because of the preceding factor. It often carries a nuance that the result is an inevitable consequence of the cause, whether that result is positive, negative, or simply a matter of fact.

  • Formality: Highly formal, literary, and stiff. It is an archaic-sounding expression that survived into modern formal Japanese.
  • Context: Primarily used in written Japanese, such as academic papers, literature, formal speeches, or high-level business reports. It is rarely used in daily conversation unless the speaker is intentionally being theatrical or extremely grave.
  • Nuance: It suggests a strong, logical connection between the cause and effect. It often highlights a paradoxical situation (e.g., "Because he was famous, he was lonely") or emphasizes the gravity of a situation. It sounds much more profound and heavy than common particles like kara or node.

Format

  • Noun + の + がゆえに
    初心者ゆえに、凡ミスをしてしまった。 Because I am a beginner, I made a careless mistake. (Note: With nouns, "no" is often omitted, especially in set phrases like "yue ni".)
  • Verb (Plain Form) + がゆえに
    知らぬがゆえに、失礼なことを言ってしまった。 Because I did not know (was ignorant), I said something rude.
  • い-Adj + がゆえに
    美しいがゆえに、多くの苦労をすることもある。 Because it is beautiful, it sometimes causes much suffering.
  • な-Adj + である + がゆえに
    有名であるがゆえに、プライバシーが全くない。 Because they are famous, they have no privacy at all.

Example sentences

  • 、、。
    Because of the weak yen, import costs have increased, putting pressure on the management of small and medium-sized enterprises.
  • 、。
    Because they are too excellent, there are times when they end up isolated from those around them.
  • 、。
    Because of a lack of information, I made a mistaken judgment.
  • 、。
    Because of my youth, I was able to take on challenges without fearing the risks.
  • 、。
    Because her sense of responsibility is so strong, she ends up harboring all her worries alone.
  • 、。
    Because of past successes, there are many organizations that cannot adapt to new changes.
  • 、。
    Because of his delicate personality, he ends up getting hurt even by trivial criticism.
  • 、。
    Because of extreme busyness, time spent with family is being sacrificed.
  • 、。
    Because it was a self-evident truth, no one questioned it.
  • 、。
    Because of my inexperience, I have caused a great deal of trouble.

Similar Grammar

〜ばっかりに (bakkari ni)

“Just because; solely because of”
お金がないばっかりに、進学をあきらめた。 Just because I didn't have money, I gave up on going to college.

Difference:

  • Usually used for negative results.
  • It expresses a feeling of regret or frustration, whereas ga yue ni is more objective and formal.

〜からこそ (kara koso)

“Precisely because...”
大変な時からこそ、協力が必要だ。 Precisely because times are tough, cooperation is necessary.

Difference:

  • Emphasizes a positive or strong reason.
  • Ga yue ni is more literary and can be used for any logical consequence.

〜ゆえ (yue)

“Due to; because of”
貧しさゆえ、学校に行けなかった。 Due to poverty, they couldn't go to school.

Difference:

  • Identical to ga yue ni but slightly shorter.
  • Ga yue ni is often used when the reason is a full clause or to add extra emphasis.

〜とあって (to atte)

“Because of the special situation that...”
連休初日とあって、遊園地は混雑している。 Because it's the first day of a long holiday, the amusement park is crowded.

Difference:

  • Used for special or unusual circumstances.
  • Ga yue ni focuses on the essence or inherent nature of the cause.

〜こととて (koto tote)

“Because; since”
急なこととて、十分なもてなしができず失礼しました。 Since it was so sudden, please excuse us for not providing adequate hospitality.

Difference:

  • An old-fashioned, polite way to give an excuse.
  • Ga yue ni is used for logical explanations rather than apologies.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. （　　　）、なをことを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. を（　　　）、に。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. を（　　　）、は。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. （　　　）、がのは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. （　　　）、のがして。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. （　　　）、を。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. （　　　）に、はを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. （　　　）、をことにした。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. すぎる（　　　）、ことができず、をすることが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. （　　　）、をしまっては。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. （　　　）、なのは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. （　　　）、でが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. （　　　）、を。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. なを（　　　）、をした。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. （　　　）、のにはにまでが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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