Because of [Noun]

This pattern is used to express the cause or reason for a situation, connecting it directly to a noun.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: It translates to "because of [Noun]" or "due to [Noun]."

When to use: Use it when you want to pinpoint a specific noun as the direct cause of a result. While it can be used for positive reasons, it often carries a nuance of explaining a negative outcome or placing blame.

Formation

Simply attach -때문에 directly to the end of a noun. It doesn't matter if the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Formula: Noun + 때문에

Examples:

비 (rain) + 때문에 → 비 때문에 (because of the rain)

일 (work) + 때문에 → 일 때문에 (because of work)

스트레스 (stress) + 때문에 → 스트레스 때문에 (because of stress)

스트레스 때문에 머리가 아파. / 비 때문에 늦었어요. / 친구 때문에 행복해요. / 너 때문에 성공했어.

Korean has several ways to say "because." The key to using -때문에 correctly is knowing it's for nouns.

-때문에 (for Nouns)

This pattern explicitly links a noun to a result. It often implies a strong, direct causal relationship and can sometimes sound like you're blaming that noun for the outcome.

Example: 소음 때문에 잠을 못 잤어요. (I couldn't sleep because of the noise.)

-(아/어)서 (for Verbs/Adjectives)

This is used with verbs and adjectives to show a natural sequence of events or a general reason. It's more neutral than -때문에 and cannot be used with commands or suggestions.

Compare:

비 때문에 늦었어요. (Blames the rain directly.)

비가 와서 늦었어요. (States a natural sequence: It rained, and as a result, I was late.)

-(으)니까 (for Verbs/Adjectives)

This is also used with verbs and adjectives. It's often used to provide a reason for a command or suggestion, or a reason the listener might already know.

Example: 날씨가 추우니까 따뜻하게 입으세요. (Because the weather is cold, dress warmly.)