JLPTMainichi JLPT
English
JLPT N3 · Reason & cause

せいで (sei de)

~せいで — because of ~ (blame)

In short · States the cause of a bad result, often with a feeling of blame: “because of ~, (something bad happened).” It follows a noun + の or a plain-form clause. The opposite of おかげで.
A free study page from Mainichi JLPT — the app has 429+ grammar points, plus vocabulary and mock exams.See the app

Pattern

  • 名詞+の+せいで noun + のせいで (雨のせいで)
  • 普通形+せいで plain form + せいで (寝坊したせいで)

Meaning and connection

As in 雨のせいで試合が中止になった, it states a cause with a feeling of blame. Nouns take の, verbs and i-adjectives the plain form, na-adjectives な, and nouns in the past だった. せい means “cause, fault.”

Compared with おかげで and ため

Use おかげで for good results and せいで for bad ones. ため states a cause objectively, whether good or bad, so it carries no blame. せいで is common in speech, but it sounds like pinning the blame on someone, so be careful who you say it to.

Examples

  • 雨(あめ)のせいで、試合(しあい)が中止(ちゅうし)になった。

    Ame no sei de, shiai ga chūshi ni natta.

    Because of the rain, the game was canceled.

    Noun + の + せいで.

  • 寝坊(ねぼう)したせいで、大切(たいせつ)な電車(でんしゃ)に乗(の)り遅(おく)れた。

    Nebō shita sei de, taisetsu na densha ni noriokureta.

    Because I overslept, I missed an important train.

    Blaming one's own mistake.

  • 道(みち)が混(こ)んでいたせいで、約束(やくそく)に遅(おく)れてしまった。

    Michi ga konde ita sei de, yakusoku ni okurete shimatta.

    Because the roads were crowded, I ended up late for my appointment.

    Plain past form + せいで.

Common mistakes

  • Do not use it for good results: × 先生のせいで合格した, ○ 先生のおかげで合格した.
  • Nouns need の: × 雨せいで, ○ 雨のせいで.

More grammar points

Practice this in the app

Mainichi JLPT turns these grammar points into daily quizzes and a readiness gauge — 100% free, no sign-up.

See the app