Sometimes things go wrong—and it’s clearly someone or something’s fault. In Japanese, the expression せいで is used to assign blame when something bad (or at least inconvenient) happens. Whether you’re talking about missing the bus or breaking a window, せいで is the grammar point to reach for. Let’s take a look at how to say “Because of X, Y happened (and it wasn’t great)” using せいで.
せいで
Because of... / Due to... (in a bad or neutral way)
Usage Pattern
[Noun] + の + せいで + Result
[な-adjective] + な + せいで + Result
[い-adjective / Verb (short form)] + せいで + Result
Details
JLPT Level: N4
How to Use It
せいで is used to talk about things that went wrong, or at least didn’t go as planned. It can be used after nouns, adjectives, and short-form verbs. Just like with おかげで, nouns take の, and な-adjectives keep the な.
The difference is in the tone: おかげで expresses gratitude, while せいで places blame. You can use it when something is someone else’s fault—or even when you’re owning up to something yourself. For example, you can say “It was my fault” with わたしのせいでした.
Just be careful: this grammar point carries emotion. It’s fine for joking around, but in serious situations, it can come across as accusatory.
Want A Deeper Explanation?
Example 1
雨の せいで、試合が中止になりました。
あめ の せいで、しあい が ちゅうし に なりました。
Ame no sei de, shiai ga chūshi ni narimashita.
Because of the rain, the game was canceled.
Example 2
友だちの せいで、コンサートに遅れました。
ともだち の せいで、こんさーと に おくれました。
Tomodachi no sei de, konsāto ni okuremashita.
Because of my friend, I was late to the concert.
Example 3
私の せいで、まどが割れました。
わたし の せいで、まど が われました。
Watashi no sei de, mado ga waremashita.
Because of me, the window broke.