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〜せいで・〜せいか

because of (blame); maybe because

Noun + のせいで · Plain form + せいで (な-adj + な)

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せいで gives the cause of something bad and puts the blame on it: 雨のせいで試合が中止になった, "the match was called off because of the rain". It attaches like おかげで: の after a noun, the plain form after a verb or adjective.

It's often used to point a finger: 彼が遅れたせいで, "because he was late". Said about yourself, 私のせいで, it's an apology: "it's my fault".

せいか softens it to a guess: 年のせいか、最近よく疲れる, "maybe it's my age, but I get tired easily these days". The speaker suspects the cause but isn't sure.

For a neutral statement of cause, as in news reports, ため is used instead.

Examples

  • 雨あめのせいで、試合しあいが中止ちゅうしになった。

    The match was called off because of the rain.

  • 寝不足ねぶそくのせいで、頭あたまが痛いたい。

    My head hurts because I didn't get enough sleep.

  • 彼かれが遅おくれたせいで、電車でんしゃに乗のり遅おくれた。

    Because he was late, we missed the train.

  • 私わたしのせいで、みんなに迷惑めいわくをかけてしまった。

    It's my fault that everyone was put to trouble.

  • 年としのせいか、最近さいきんよく疲つかれる。

    Maybe it's my age, but I get tired easily these days.

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