〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの
gayue-yueno
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
because of …; owing to … (literary cause)
ゆえ(に) is a classical word for "reason", so Xゆえに Y means "because of X, Y". It often carries a feeling that X is an inherent quality (youth, fame, poverty) that inevitably brought about Y, sometimes with regret or resignation. Nゆえの N makes it a modifier: 貧しさゆえの苦労 "hardships due to poverty".
書き言葉: essays, literature, formal speeches, academic writing. Rare in conversation, where から / ので / のために are used.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + ゆえ(に) / Noun + が + ゆえに (若さゆえに, 有名であるがゆえに)Plain form + (が) + ゆえに (努力したがゆえに)Noun + ゆえの + Noun (貧しさゆえの苦労)Sentence-initial ゆえに = "therefore" (very formal)
Visual diagram
から
casual, subjective
ので
polite, everyday
ため(に)
formal, objective
ゆえ(に)
literary, inherent cause, often regret
から
casual, subjective
ので
polite, everyday
ため(に)
formal, objective
ゆえ(に)
literary, inherent cause, often regret
Natural examples
若さゆえに、無謀な行動をしてしまった。
わかさゆえに、むぼうなこうどうをしてしまった。
Because of my youth, I acted recklessly.
若さ (a noun made from an adjective) + ゆえに: youth as the inherent cause.
有名であるがゆえに、自由に外出できない。
ゆうめいであるがゆえに、じゆうにがいしゅつできない。
Precisely because he is famous, he cannot go out freely.
であるがゆえに: the formal copula with が emphasises "precisely because".
貧しさゆえの苦労は、彼を強くした。
まずしさゆえのくろうは、かれをつよくした。
The hardships born of poverty made him strong.
ゆえの + noun: hardship that stems from poverty.
彼は正直すぎるがゆえに、損をすることが多い。
かれはしょうじきすぎるがゆえに、そんをすることがおおい。
Precisely because he is too honest, he often loses out.
Plain form + がゆえに; an admirable quality with a negative result.
人は弱さゆえに、他人を頼るのだろう。
ひとはよわさゆえに、たにんをたよるのだろう。
It is probably because of our weakness that we rely on others.
Essay tone: an inherent quality explaining behaviour.
Similar grammar and the difference
The sentence-final or conjunction use of the same word: それゆえ, 〜ゆえだ. Compare side by side
"Precisely because" with an affirmative, appreciative nuance (愛すればこそ). ゆえに is more neutral or regretful. Compare side by side
"As you would expect, given X"; everyday and not literary. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 若いゆえに失敗した。
- ✓
- 若さゆえに / 若いがゆえに失敗した。
- Why
- An い-adjective needs が (若いがゆえに) or nominalisation (若さ) before ゆえに.
- ✗
- 疲れたゆえに、今日は早く寝ます。
- ✓
- 疲れたので、今日は早く寝ます。
- Why
- ゆえに is too literary for a casual personal reason.
- ✗
- 有名なゆえに、自由がない。
- ✓
- 有名であるがゆえに / 有名ゆえに、自由がない。
- Why
- な-adjectives take である + がゆえに or attach directly as a noun; な + ゆえに is unnatural.
Frequent nouns: 若さ, 貧しさ, 弱さ, 愛, 無知, 立場, 性格. が before ゆえに adds emphasis ("precisely because"). ゆえの + noun is common in titles and essays: 経験不足ゆえのミス.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- When the cause is an abstract noun (若さ, 貧しさ) and the register is literary, choose ゆえに over ので / から.
- Distractors include とあって (special observable situation) and ばこそ (positive emphasis); check the emotional tone.
- Remember ゆえの before a noun: if a noun follows the blank, のゆえ or ゆえの is needed, not ゆえに.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの mean?
because of …; owing to … (literary cause). ゆえ(に) is a classical word for "reason", so Xゆえに Y means "because of X, Y". It often carries a feeling that X is an inherent quality (youth, fame, poverty) that inevitably brought about Y, sometimes with regret or resignation. Nゆえの N makes it a modifier: 貧しさゆえの苦労 "hardships due to poverty".
How do you form 〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの?
Noun + ゆえ(に) / Noun + が + ゆえに (若さゆえに, 有名であるがゆえに) / Plain form + (が) + ゆえに (努力したがゆえに) / Noun + ゆえの + Noun (貧しさゆえの苦労) / Sentence-initial ゆえに = "therefore" (very formal). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの used?
書き言葉: essays, literature, formal speeches, academic writing. Rare in conversation, where から / ので / のために are used.
What is the difference between 〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの and 〜ゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえだ?
The sentence-final or conjunction use of the same word: それゆえ, 〜ゆえだ.
What is the difference between 〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの and 〜ばこそ?
"Precisely because" with an affirmative, appreciative nuance (愛すればこそ). ゆえに is more neutral or regretful.
What is a common mistake with 〜がゆえ(に) / 〜ゆえの?
Wrong: 若いゆえに失敗した。 Right: 若さゆえに / 若いがゆえに失敗した。 An い-adjective needs が (若いがゆえに) or nominalisation (若さ) before ゆえに.
Quick check
経験の浅さ（ ）、彼は判断を誤ってしまった。