Korean “(으)로 인해” means that the preceding noun becomes the cause of a particular result. For example, “폭우로 인해 항공편이 지연되었습니다” means “Flights were delayed due to heavy rain.” This pattern appears frequently in news reports, announcements, reports, and customer service notices because it presents the cause first and then explains the result affected by it.

For the same idea of “I was late because it rained,” everyday conversation would usually use “비가 많이 와서 늦었어요.” If you change it to “폭우로 인해 도착이 지연되었습니다,” however, the tone immediately becomes that of a formal notice. Another easily confused expression is “에 의해.” Both can sometimes involve causes, but “(으)로 인해” mainly answers “What caused this result?”, while “에 의해” also frequently indicates who performed an action, what basis something follows, or what means were used.

What Does Korean “(으)로 인해” Mean? A Noun Becomes the Cause of the Result That Follows

Korean “(으)로 인해” means “because of…,” “due to…,” or “as a result of…,” with the preceding noun treated as the cause of the result that follows. “인해” comes from “인하여,” a form of the verb “인하다,” and is commonly shortened to “인해” in both spoken and general written Korean.

Therefore, “시스템 오류로 인해 주문이 지연되었습니다” does more than simply answer an individual “why.” It formally identifies “시스템 오류” as the cause of “주문 지연.” This style is common in news reports, transportation information, corporate announcements, and service notifications.

Although “(으)로 인해” frequently appears with negative results such as accidents, delays, and losses, the grammar itself does not require the following result to be negative. As long as there is a clear cause-and-effect relationship, it can also be used with positive changes, although everyday speech often prefers simpler causal expressions.

• Example: 폭우로 인해 항공편이 지연되었습니다.
  Romanization: po-gu-ro in-hae hang-gong-pyeon-i ji-yeon-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Flights were delayed due to heavy rain.
  “폭우” is the objective cause of the flight delay, and the sentence sounds very much like an airport announcement or news report.
• Example: 시스템 오류로 인해 주문 처리가 늦어지고 있습니다.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-hae ju-mun cheo-ri-ga neu-jeo-ji-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Order processing is being delayed due to a system error.
  “시스템 오류” is the cause of the service disruption, and the sentence then explains the ongoing effect.
• Example: 지하철 개통으로 인해 출퇴근 시간이 줄었습니다.
  Romanization: ji-ha-cheol gae-tong-eu-ro in-hae chul-toe-geun si-gan-i ju-reot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Commuting time decreased due to the opening of the subway line.
  The result is positive, showing that “(으)로 인해” is not limited to negative outcomes.

Korean “(으)로 인해” Conjugation Rules: Final Consonants, No Final Consonant, and the ㄹ Rule

“(으)로 인해” mainly attaches to nouns. If the noun ends in a final consonant other than ㄹ, use “으로 인해.” If there is no final consonant, or if the noun ends in ㄹ, use “로 인해.”

This follows the same basic rule as the Korean particle “(으)로.” A commonly mistaken example is “폭설”: because it ends in the final consonant ㄹ, the correct form is “폭설로 인해,” not “폭설으로 인해.”

Noun Type	Form	Example
No final consonant	Noun＋로 인해	사고 → 사고로 인해
Final consonant other than ㄹ	Noun＋으로 인해	지진 → 지진으로 인해
Final consonant ㄹ	Noun＋로 인해	폭설 → 폭설로 인해
Modifying a following noun	Noun＋(으)로 인한＋noun	사고로 인한 지연
Full formal form	Noun＋(으)로 인하여	공사로 인하여

What Is the Difference Between “인해,” “인해서,” “인한,” and “인하여”?

“인해,” “인한,” and “인하여” all come from “인하다,” but they appear in different positions in a sentence.

“인해” is followed directly by a result, as in “폭설로 인해 배송이 늦어졌습니다.” “인한” is an attributive form and must modify a following noun, as in “폭설로 인한 배송 지연.” “인하여” is the fuller and more formal connective form.

• Example: 공사로 인해 도로가 통제됩니다.
  Romanization: gong-sa-ro in-hae do-ro-ga tong-je-doem-ni-da.
  Translation: The road will be restricted due to construction.
  “인해” is followed directly by the complete result clause “도로가 통제됩니다.”
• Example: 공사로 인한 도로 통제 안내입니다.
  Romanization: gong-sa-ro in-han do-ro tong-je an-nae-im-ni-da.
  Translation: This is a notice about road restrictions caused by construction.
  “인한” directly modifies the following noun phrase “도로 통제,” making it especially suitable for announcement titles.
• Example: 공사로 인하여 일부 구간의 통행이 제한됩니다.
  Romanization: gong-sa-ro in-ha-yeo il-bu gu-gan-ui tong-haeng-i je-han-doem-ni-da.
  Translation: Access to some sections will be restricted due to construction.
  “인하여” retains the full form and sounds more formal than ordinary “인해.”

Korean Causal Expression “(으)로 인해”: A Complete Comparison of Three Written Forms

“(으)로 인해” is most commonly used to describe an event causing a result. It can also become “(으)로 인한” to modify a noun, or take the full form “(으)로 인하여” for a more formal register. All three treat the preceding noun as a cause, but their sentence structures differ.

How to Use “(으)로 인해”｜An Event, Phenomenon, or Problem Causes a Result

“Noun＋(으)로 인해＋result” is the most common structure. The first part often contains causes such as weather, accidents, construction, system failures, economic changes, or policy changes, while the second part explains what happened as a result.

This expression is well suited to situations that require an objective explanation of cause. If you are simply telling a friend that you were late because you overslept, there is usually no need to deliberately turn it into “늦잠으로 인해.”

• Example: 공사로 인해 이 구간은 오늘 통행이 제한됩니다.
  Romanization: gong-sa-ro in-hae i gu-gan-eun o-neul tong-haeng-i je-han-doem-ni-da.
  Translation: Access to this section is restricted today due to construction.
  Construction is the objective cause of the road restriction, making the sentence well suited to a traffic notice.
• Example: 환율 변동으로 인해 수입 가격이 올랐습니다.
  Romanization: hwan-yul byeon-dong-eu-ro in-hae su-ip ga-gyeo-gi ol-lat-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Import prices rose due to exchange-rate fluctuations.
  “환율 변동” is an economic condition, while the price increase that follows is an observable result.
• Example: 개인 사정으로 인해 참석하지 못했습니다.
  Romanization: gae-in sa-jeong-eu-ro in-hae cham-seok-ha-ji mot-haet-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: I was unable to attend due to personal circumstances.
  Although “개인 사정” concerns an individual, it is presented as a formal noun describing the cause of the absence, so “(으)로 인해” can be used.

How to Use “(으)로 인한”｜Placing the Cause Before a Noun in Announcements and Titles

“(으)로 인한” must be followed by a noun and means something like “caused by…” or “resulting from….” Instead of completing the result as a full sentence, it compresses the cause and result into a noun phrase.

Therefore, “태풍으로 인해 운항이 취소되었습니다” is a complete sentence, while “태풍으로 인한 운항 취소” sounds more like a news headline, announcement item, or document title.

• Example: 폭설로 인한 배송 지연 안내입니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-han bae-song ji-yeon an-nae-im-ni-da.
  Translation: This is a notice about delivery delays caused by heavy snow.
  “배송 지연” is the following noun phrase, so the attributive form “인한” is used.
• Example: 장시간 노동으로 인한 건강 문제가 제기되었습니다.
  Romanization: jang-si-gan no-dong-eu-ro in-han geon-gang mun-je-ga je-gi-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Health problems caused by long working hours have been raised as an issue.
  “장시간 노동으로 인한” specifies what kind of “건강 문제” is being discussed.
• Example: 기상 악화로 인한 결항 가능성이 있습니다.
  Romanization: gi-sang a-kwa-ro in-han gyeol-hang ga-neung-seong-i it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: There is a possibility of flight cancellations due to worsening weather.
  “기상 악화” is the cause of the “결항 가능성,” and the entire phrase forms a formal noun expression.

How to Use “(으)로 인하여”｜Explaining Causes Fully in Official Documents, Regulations, and Formal Notices

“(으)로 인하여” and “(으)로 인해” have essentially the same causal meaning. “인해” is a common shortened form of “인하여,” so “인해” already sounds natural in ordinary corporate notices, news reports, and written explanations.

“인하여” preserves the fuller form and is more likely to appear in administrative documents, contracts, regulations, and formal statements. Frequent use in casual conversation would sound overly formal.

• Example: 정전으로 인하여 엘리베이터 운행이 중단되었습니다.
  Romanization: jeong-jeon-eu-ro in-ha-yeo el-li-be-i-teo un-haeng-i jung-dan-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Elevator service has been suspended due to a power outage.
  “인하여” is combined with a formal sentence ending, creating a tone similar to an official building-management notice.
• Example: 천재지변으로 인하여 일정이 변경될 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: cheon-jae-ji-byeon-eu-ro in-ha-yeo il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doel su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The schedule may be changed due to natural disasters.
  “천재지변” is itself a formal term commonly found in contractual clauses, so it pairs naturally with “인하여.”
• Example: 불가피한 사유로 인하여 계약이 해지될 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: bul-ga-pi-han sa-yu-ro in-ha-yeo gye-ya-gi hae-ji-doel su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The contract may be terminated due to unavoidable circumstances.
  The entire sentence belongs to the register of institutional or contractual explanation, so the full form helps maintain the same level of formality.

What’s the Difference Between Korean “(으)로 인해” and “때문에／-아·어서／에 의해”?

Korean has many expressions that can be translated as “because,” but they do not focus on the same thing. “(으)로 인해” mainly treats a noun as an objective cause; “때문에” has a broader range and can be used in both conversation and writing; “-아/어서” directly connects an action or state with its consequence; and “에 의해,” in addition to sometimes expressing cause, is more commonly used to indicate an agent, means, or basis.

Point	“(으)로 인해”	“때문에”	“-아/어서”	“에 의해”
Main function	A noun causes an objective result	General cause or reason	An action or state causes a result	Agent, means, basis, and sometimes cause
Common attachment	Noun	Noun, verb／adjective＋기	Verb, adjective	Noun
Register	Formal, more written	Both spoken and written	Most natural in everyday speech	Formal, more written
Common situations	Notices, news, reports	Everyday explanations, complaints, reasons	Daily conversation	Passive sentences, regulations, analysis
Typical example	폭우로 인해 지연되다	비 때문에 늦다	비가 와서 늦다	위원회에 의해 결정되다

“(으)로 인해” vs. “때문에”｜Formal Causation vs. General Reasons

“때문에” has a much broader range of use than “(으)로 인해.” It can be used when talking with friends, explaining why you are late, complaining about the weather, and even discussing formal causes. “(으)로 인해,” by contrast, more readily presents the preceding cause as an objective event.

✅ 교통 체증 때문에 조금 늦을 것 같아요.
I think I’ll be a little late because of traffic.

This sounds like an individual sending a message to explain why they will be late.

✅ 교통 체증으로 인해 행사 시작 시간이 변경되었습니다.
The event start time has been changed due to traffic congestion.

This sounds like an official notice sent by the organizer to all participants.

“때문에” is not so informal that it cannot appear in announcements, and “(으)로 인해” is not restricted exclusively to formal writing. The real difference is that the former feels more like a general reason, while the latter more easily creates a clearly structured written cause-and-effect relationship.

“(으)로 인해” vs. “-아/어서”｜Noun-Based Cause vs. Natural Clause Connection

“-아/어서” attaches directly to verbs and adjectives, making it especially convenient in everyday conversation. Expressions such as “비가 와서,” “늦게 일어나서,” and “몸이 아파서” directly connect the preceding situation to its consequence.

“(으)로 인해,” by contrast, requires a noun before it.

✅ 비가 많이 와서 길이 막혔어요.
The roads were congested because it rained heavily.

✅ 폭우로 인해 일부 도로가 통제되었습니다.
Some roads were restricted due to heavy rain.

The first sounds like an ordinary description of everyday circumstances, while the second presents “폭우” as the formal cause of the traffic restriction.

“(으)로 인해” vs. “에 의해”｜Cause vs. Source of an Action

The most typical function of “(으)로 인해” is “A causes B.” “에 의해,” by contrast, frequently appears in passive sentences and indicates who performs an action, what means are used, or what basis something follows.

✅ 강한 바람으로 인해 나무가 쓰러졌습니다.
The tree fell due to strong winds.

“강한 바람” is the cause of the tree falling.

✅ 이 규정은 위원회에 의해 결정되었습니다.
This regulation was decided by the committee.

“위원회” is the organization that made the decision, so it functions as the source of the action in a passive sentence.

The two forms are not completely mutually exclusive. “에 의해” can also express cause or basis in some contexts, but if you simply want to state clearly that an event caused a particular result, “(으)로 인해” is usually more direct.

When “에 의해” Means “According to” or “On the Basis of,” It Cannot Be Replaced with “(으)로 인해”

“에 의해” can also indicate that a decision, procedure, or result is based on laws, standards, data, or other criteria. In this case, the preceding noun is not “the cause of a negative result” but the basis for judgment or action.

✅ 회사 규정에 의해 처리됩니다.
It will be handled according to company regulations.

Here, “회사 규정” is the basis for how the matter will be handled.

△ 회사 규정으로 인해 처리됩니다.
If changed to “(으)로 인해,” the sentence more readily suggests a causal relationship such as “something happened because of company regulations,” changing the function of the sentence.

How Do You Quickly Choose Between “(으)로 인해,” “때문에,” and “에 의해”?

First, look at the role the preceding noun plays in the sentence.

If it is something such as a typhoon, construction, system failure, or policy change that causes a result, “(으)로 인해” is natural. If it is simply an ordinary everyday reason, “때문에” or “-아/어서” usually sounds lighter. If the sentence answers “Who did it?”, “According to what rule?”, or “By what means?”, consider “에 의해” first.

Is Korean “(으)로 인해” Only Used for Negative Results?

“(으)로 인해” is not a grammar pattern reserved for negative events. It simply means that the preceding noun functions as a cause, so the following result can be either negative or positive.

However, news reports, announcements, and customer service notices often need to explain accidents, delays, system failures, and restrictions, which easily creates the impression that “(으)로 인해” is associated only with bad events.

“(으)로 인해” Commonly Appears with Negative Results Such as Accidents and Delays

✅ 폭설로 인해 항공편이 취소되었습니다.
Flights were canceled due to heavy snow.

✅ 시스템 오류로 인해 결제가 지연되고 있습니다.
Payment processing is being delayed due to a system error.

These examples fit the formal explanatory tone of “(으)로 인해” very naturally.

“(으)로 인해” Can Also Be Used with Positive Results, but the Tone Remains Objective

✅ 새로운 도로의 개통으로 인해 이동 시간이 크게 줄었습니다.
Travel time decreased significantly due to the opening of the new road.

✅ 기술 발전으로 인해 다양한 서비스가 가능해졌습니다.
Various services have become possible due to technological development.

There is nothing grammatically wrong with these sentences, but in more personal or conversational contexts, Korean may instead use “덕분에” to highlight a positive outcome.

If You Want to Say “Thanks to…,” “덕분에” Is Usually More Natural Than “(으)로 인해”

✅ 친구의 도움 덕분에 일을 빨리 끝냈어요.
Thanks to my friend’s help, I finished the work quickly.

If changed to “친구의 도움으로 인해,” the sentence can still establish a cause-and-effect relationship, but it becomes more objective and formal and loses the sense of gratitude toward the cause.

Therefore, “(으)로 인해” can express positive causation, but if the speaker wants to explicitly express gratitude or benefit, “덕분에” is often more appropriate.

Korean “(으)로 인해” in Real Life: How Is It Used in Announcements, Customer Service, and News?

“(으)로 인해” is especially useful in texts that first state a cause and then explain the scope of its impact. Transportation agencies may use “기상 악화로 인해,” online stores may use “주문량 증가로 인해,” and company system notices often contain “서버 점검으로 인해.”

This expression also has a practical effect: the grammatical focus is not on a person who caused a problem, but on an event such as “construction,” “system failure,” or “weather.” This makes it easier for public-facing notices to maintain an objective tone.

Scenario ①｜A Hotel Announces That the Elevator Is Temporarily Unavailable

A：오늘 엘리베이터를 사용할 수 없나요?
　　o-neul el-li-be-i-teo-reul sa-yong-hal su eom-na-yo?
　　Can’t we use the elevator today?

B：정기 점검으로 인해 오후 두 시까지 운행이 중단됩니다.
　　jeong-gi jeom-geom-eu-ro in-hae o-hu du si-kka-ji un-haeng-i jung-dan-doem-ni-da.
　　Elevator service will be suspended until 2 p.m. due to scheduled maintenance.

📌 Grammar Point: “정기 점검” is the cause of the suspension, and the hotel needs to objectively explain the duration of the impact to guests, making “(으)로 인해” very natural.

Scenario ②｜Customer Service Explains a Delivery Delay

A：제 주문은 왜 아직 출발하지 않았나요?
　　je ju-mu-neun wae a-jik chul-bal-ha-ji a-nat-na-yo?
　　Why hasn’t my order shipped yet?

B：주문량 증가로 인해 배송이 평소보다 늦어지고 있습니다.
　　ju-mun-nyang jeung-ga-ro in-hae bae-song-i pyeong-so-bo-da neu-jeo-ji-go it-seum-ni-da.
　　Delivery is taking longer than usual due to an increase in order volume.

📌 Grammar Point: “주문량 증가” is the reason the deliveries are delayed, fitting the formal explanatory tone commonly used by customer service.

Scenario ③｜Discussing a Policy Change Reported in the News

A：왜 지원 대상이 줄어든 거예요?
　　wae ji-won dae-sang-i ju-reo-deun geo-ye-yo?
　　Why were the eligibility criteria narrowed?

B：예산 조정으로 인해 기준이 바뀌었다고 해요.
　　ye-san jo-jeong-eu-ro in-hae gi-ju-ni ba-kkwi-eot-da-go hae-yo.
　　I heard that the criteria changed due to budget adjustments.

📌 Grammar Point: Even though the overall exchange is casual conversation, “(으)로 인해” can naturally retain its written tone when the speaker is relaying information from an institutional or news source.

Cultural Notes:

1. Korean public transportation systems, schools, shopping websites, and corporate notices frequently use “(으)로 인해” to explain the cause of service disruptions. Common combinations include “기상 악화로 인해,” “시설 점검으로 인해,” “시스템 오류로 인해,” and “주문량 증가로 인해.”
2. “(으)로 인해” can separate the stated cause from personal responsibility, which is why customer service notices and announcements often place an event noun first. However, it is not inherently a formula for avoiding responsibility; actual responsibility still depends on the full content.
3. “인하여” is more formal than “인해,” but more formal does not always mean better. “인해” is already natural in ordinary customer service notices and company announcements. The full “인하여” is mainly useful when the entire document has the style of an official administrative text or contractual clause.

How Does Korean “(으)로 인해” Compare with Japanese “〜により／〜によって”?

Japanese “〜により／〜によって” and Korean “(으)로 인해” can both indicate that an event causes a result, so similar sentences often appear in news, announcements, and formal explanations. For example, Japanese “大雨により運休します” and Korean “폭우로 인해 운행이 중단됩니다” both objectively describe the causal relationship between heavy rain and suspended service.

However, Japanese “〜によって” has a broader range of functions than Korean “(으)로 인해.” In addition to cause, it can indicate means, method, conditional variation, and the agent in a passive sentence. Therefore, when you see “〜によって” in Japanese, it should not automatically be translated into Korean as “(으)로 인해.”

◆ Similar Grammar ①: Japanese “〜により” Expressing Cause

“〜により” is a more written form of “〜によって.” In announcements, news, and formal explanations, it can express cause in a way very similar to Korean “(으)로 인해.”

• Example: 大雨により、列車の運行が遅れています。
  Kana: おおあめにより、れっしゃのうんこうがおくれています。
  Translation: Train services are delayed due to heavy rain.
  “大雨” is the cause of the delay, and a natural Korean equivalent is “폭우로 인해 열차 운행이 지연되고 있습니다.”
• Example: 工事により、一部の道路が通行止めになっています。
  Kana: こうじにより、いちぶのどうろがつうこうどめになっています。
  Translation: Some roads are currently closed due to construction.
  Construction causes the road restrictions, making this similar to Korean “공사로 인해.”
• Example: システム障害により、サービスを一時停止しています。
  Kana: システムしょうがいにより、サービスをいちじていししています。
  Translation: The service has been temporarily suspended due to a system failure.
  This kind of formal service notice is exactly the type of context where the two languages align closely.

◆ Similar Grammar ②: Japanese “〜によって” Expressing the Agent of an Action

Japanese “〜によって” can also mark the agent in a passive sentence. In this case, the Korean equivalent is not “(으)로 인해” but is closer to “에 의해.”

• Example: この規則は委員会によって決定されました。
  Kana: このきそくはいいんかいによってけっていされました。
  Translation: This regulation was decided by the committee.
  “委員会” is the party that performed the act of deciding, so the Korean equivalent is more naturally “이 규정은 위원회에 의해 결정되었습니다.”
• Example: この作品は有名な建築家によって設計されました。
  Kana: このさくひんはゆうめいなけんちくかによってせっけいされました。
  Translation: This work was designed by a famous architect.
  The sentence answers who was responsible for the design, not what event caused the result.
• Example: この制度は法律によって定められています。
  Kana: このせいどはほうりつによってさだめられています。
  Translation: This system is established by law.
  “法律” is the basis of the regulation, so Korean would generally use a form such as “법에 의해.”

◆ Similar Grammar ③: Japanese “〜のため” Expressing a Formal Cause

Japanese “noun＋のため” can also express cause and is especially common in notices and explanatory writing. In some situations, it is somewhat closer to ordinary causal expressions than “〜により.”

• Example: 工事のため、入口を閉鎖しています。
  Kana: こうじのため、いりぐちをへいさしています。
  Translation: The entrance is currently closed due to construction.
  Depending on the desired level of formality, Korean could use “공사로 인해” or the more general “공사 때문에.”
• Example: 悪天候のため、試合は中止になりました。
  Kana: あくてんこうのため、しあいはちゅうしになりました.
  Translation: The match was canceled due to bad weather.
  The cause-and-effect relationship is clear, and Korean could use “기상 악화로 인해 경기가 취소되었습니다.”
• Example: 体調不良のため、本日は欠席します。
  Kana: たいちょうふりょうのため、ほんじつはけっせきします。
  Translation: I will be absent today due to poor health.
  Japanese “〜のため” is also commonly used in formal personal explanations, while Korean may choose among expressions such as “개인 사정으로 인해” or “몸이 좋지 않아서” depending on the situation.

◆ Core Differences from Korean “(으)로 인해”:

Korean “(으)로 인해” mainly treats the preceding noun as the cause of the result that follows. Japanese “〜によって／〜により,” in addition to expressing cause, can indicate an agent, means, or basis. Therefore, when translating into Korean, it may correspond to different forms such as “(으)로 인해” or “에 의해.” The key is to first determine whether the preceding noun is “causing a result” or “performing an action.”

What you really need to remember about Korean “(으)로 인해” is not a list of formal English translations, but the way it places a noun at the beginning of a cause-and-effect relationship. “폭우로 인해” introduces the effects caused by heavy rain, “시스템 오류로 인해” introduces the result of a system failure, and “정책 변화로 인해” explains what happened after a policy change.

If you simply want to say “I was late because it rained,” “비가 와서 늦었어요” is enough. When you see “에 의해,” first look for who performed the action, what basis was used, or how something was carried out. Once you separate cause, agent, and basis, “(으)로 인해,” “때문에,” and “에 의해” stop looking like three expressions that all simply mean “because.”

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