Thanks To / Because Of: 〜おかげで / 〜せいで

Learn the positive and negative cause patterns 〜おかげで and 〜せいで, which are common in explanation and narrative writing.

Use 〜おかげで for favorable results and 〜せいで for negative results or blame.Choose the right tone depending on whether the cause is appreciated, neutral, or criticized.Read the emotional stance behind the cause-and-effect relationship.

Guided study

Core meaning

Both patterns connect cause and result. 〜おかげで is used when the result is positive or beneficial. 〜せいで is used when the result is negative, inconvenient, or blameworthy.

先生のアドバイスのおかげで、合格できた。

Thanks to my teacher's advice, I was able to pass.

おかげで marks a positive, appreciated result.

雨のせいで、試合が中止になった。

Because of the rain, the game was canceled.

せいで marks a negative result with complaint or inconvenience.

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Thanks To / Because Of: 〜おかげで / 〜せいで

Core meaning

Practice guides for this lesson

N3 Japanese grammar lessons

Japanese grammar practice

Japanese grammar lessons