Other languages：繁體中文｜日本語｜한국어

Korean 「(으)로 인해」 indicates that a cause expressed as a noun leads to a subsequent result. It commonly appears in news reports, announcements, reports, and customer service notices. In sentences such as 「태풍으로 인해 항공기 운항이 차질을 빚고 있다」, the event causing the impact is introduced first, followed by an explanation of the current situation.

In everyday conversation, 「때문에」 or 「-아/어서」 is usually more common when expressing a reason. Using 「(으)로 인해」 gives the sentence a more formal, written explanatory tone, and it is often used to describe the effects caused by events such as weather, accidents, malfunctions, and institutional changes. We can start with the attachment rules, then distinguish where 「인해／인한／인하여」 appear and how they differ from 「때문에」 and 「-기 때문에」 in sentences.

Korean 「(으)로 인해」 Attachment Rules: What Happens with No Batchim, Batchim, and ㄹ Batchim?

「(으)로 인해」 is mainly attached to nouns, and the part that actually changes is the particle 「(으)로」 at the beginning. 「인해」 itself does not change depending on whether the preceding noun has a batchim. If the noun has no batchim, use 「로 인해」; if it has a batchim other than ㄹ, use 「으로 인해」; if the final batchim is ㄹ, use 「로 인해」 even though the noun has a batchim.

Therefore, 「사고」 has no batchim, so it becomes 「사고로 인해」. 「태풍」 ends in the ㅇ batchim, so it becomes 「태풍으로 인해」. Although 「폭설」 ends in the ㄹ batchim, ㄹ is an exception, so it is written 「폭설로 인해」, not 「폭설으로 인해」.

Also, 「로／으로」 is a particle and must be written directly after the preceding noun, while 「인해」 is separated by a space. Therefore, the correct forms are 「사고로 인해」 and 「태풍으로 인해」, not 「사고 로 인해」 or 「태풍으로인해」.

Noun Ending	Attachment Pattern	Example	Note
No batchim	Noun＋로 인해	사고 → 사고로 인해	Do not add 「으」
Batchim, except ㄹ	Noun＋으로 인해	태풍 → 태풍으로 인해	Add 「으」 before 「로」
ㄹ batchim	Noun＋로 인해	폭설 → 폭설로 인해	ㄹ is an exception; do not use 「으로」

「(으)로 인해」 Attachment ①｜Noun Without Batchim＋「로 인해」

When a noun has no batchim at the end, attach 「로 인해」 directly. For example, the final syllables of 「사고」「화재」「오류」 all have no batchim, so they become 「사고로 인해」「화재로 인해」「오류로 인해」.

There is no need to add 「으」 here. To determine the correct form, you only need to check whether the final Korean syllable of the noun has a batchim. Batchim in earlier syllables of the word does not matter.

• Example: 사고로 인해 도로가 통제되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: sa-go-ro in-hae do-ro-ga tong-je-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The road is currently restricted due to the accident.
  The final syllable 「고」 in 「사고」 has no batchim, so 「로 인해」 is attached directly, forming 「사고로 인해」.
• Example: 화재로 인해 건물이 크게 손상되었습니다.
  Romanization: hwa-jae-ro in-hae geon-mu-ri keu-ge son-sang-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The building was severely damaged due to the fire.
  The final syllable 「재」 in 「화재」 has no batchim, so 「화재로 인해」 is used. The sentence presents the fire as the cause of the damage to the building.
• Example: 시스템 오류로 인해 결제가 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-hae gyeol-je-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Payment processing is being delayed due to a system error.
  The attachment is determined by the noun closest to 「로 인해」, which is 「오류」. 「류」 has no batchim, so the correct form is 「오류로 인해」. The batchim in the earlier word 「시스템」 does not change it to 「으로 인해」.

「(으)로 인해」 Attachment ②｜Use 「으로 인해」 When There Is a Batchim Other Than ㄹ

When a noun ends in a batchim and that batchim is not ㄹ, attach 「으로 인해」. For example, 「태풍」 ends in the ㅇ batchim, 「지진」 ends in ㄴ, and 「폭염」 ends in ㅁ, so the forms are 「태풍으로 인해」「지진으로 인해」「폭염으로 인해」.

In this case, 「으」 cannot be omitted, so forms such as 「태풍로 인해」 and 「지진로 인해」 are not possible. Again, the attachment is determined only by the batchim of the final syllable.

• Example: 태풍으로 인해 항공편이 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: tae-pung-eu-ro in-hae hang-gong-pyeo-ni ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Flights are being delayed due to the typhoon.
  The final syllable 「풍」 in 「태풍」 has the ㅇ batchim, which is not ㄹ, so 「태풍으로 인해」 is used.
• Example: 지진으로 인해 건물 일부가 파손되었습니다.
  Romanization: ji-jin-eu-ro in-hae geon-mul il-bu-ga pa-son-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Part of the building was damaged due to the earthquake.
  The final syllable 「진」 in 「지진」 has the ㄴ batchim, so 「으로 인해」 is attached, forming 「지진으로 인해」.
• Example: 폭염으로 인해 야외 행사가 취소되었습니다.
  Romanization: pok-yeom-eu-ro in-hae ya-oe haeng-sa-ga chwi-so-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The outdoor event was canceled due to the extreme heat.
  The final syllable 「염」 in 「폭염」 has the ㅁ batchim, so 「로 인해」 cannot be attached directly. The correct form is 「폭염으로 인해」.

「(으)로 인해」 Attachment ③｜ㄹ Batchim Is an Exception, So Use 「로 인해」

The ㄹ batchim is a special case that needs to be remembered separately in the attachment rules for 「(으)로」. Nouns with batchim generally take 「으로」, but when the final batchim is ㄹ, they take 「로」 just like nouns without batchim. Therefore, 「폭설」 is written 「폭설로 인해」, not 「폭설으로 인해」.

The same rule applies to nouns ending in ㄹ batchim such as 「과열」 and 「마찰」. When you see a noun with batchim, do not immediately attach 「으로 인해」; first check whether that batchim is ㄹ.

• Example: 폭설로 인해 일부 도로가 통제되었습니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-hae il-bu do-ro-ga tong-je-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Some roads were restricted due to heavy snow.
  The final syllable 「설」 in 「폭설」 has the ㄹ batchim, so 「로 인해」 is attached directly. Writing 「폭설으로 인해」 is incorrect.
• Example: 과열로 인해 기기가 작동을 멈췄습니다.
  Romanization: gwa-yeol-lo in-hae gi-gi-ga jak-dong-eul meom-chwot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The device stopped operating due to overheating.
  The final syllable 「열」 in 「과열」 also has the ㄹ batchim, so 「과열로 인해」 is used without adding 「으」.
• Example: 마찰로 인해 피부가 붉어질 수 있습니다.
  Romanization: ma-chal-lo in-hae pi-bu-ga bul-geo-jil su it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The skin may become red due to friction.
  The final syllable 「찰」 in 「마찰」 has the ㄹ batchim, so it takes 「로 인해」. The rule here is exactly the same as in 「폭설로 인해」 and 「과열로 인해」.

▌How Do You Choose Between 「사고로 인해」「태풍으로 인해」「폭설로 인해」?

The three forms may look different, but they all follow the same 「(으)로」 attachment rules. First look at the final syllable of the noun and check whether it has a batchim. If it does, take one more step and check whether that batchim is ㄹ.

The final syllable 「고」 in 「사고」 has no batchim, so the form is 「사고로 인해」. The final syllable 「풍」 in 「태풍」 has the ㅇ batchim, so it becomes 「태풍으로 인해」. Although the final syllable 「설」 in 「폭설」 has a batchim, it is the ㄹ batchim, so it returns to 「로 인해」 and is written 「폭설로 인해」.

• Example: 사고로 인해 열차가 지연되었습니다.
  Romanization: sa-go-ro in-hae yeol-cha-ga ji-yeon-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The train was delayed due to an accident.
  「사고」 has no batchim, so it takes 「로 인해」.
• Example: 태풍으로 인해 열차가 지연되었습니다.
  Romanization: tae-pung-eu-ro in-hae yeol-cha-ga ji-yeon-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The train was delayed due to the typhoon.
  「태풍」 has a non-ㄹ batchim, so it takes 「으로 인해」.
• Example: 폭설로 인해 열차가 지연되었습니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-hae yeol-cha-ga ji-yeon-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The train was delayed due to heavy snow.
  「폭설」 has the ㄹ batchim, so it still takes 「로 인해」. The result in all three sentences is exactly the same, making them useful for directly comparing how 「로／으로」 changes depending on the preceding noun.

How to Use Korean 「(으)로 인해」: Expressing a Cause with a Noun

The full grammatical form of 「로 인해」 is 「(으)로 인해」, with a meaning close to “due to,” “because of,” or “as a result of.” It mainly follows a noun and presents that noun as the cause of the result in the following clause. The verb 「인하다」 itself carries the meaning of something becoming a cause, so expressions such as 「사고로 인해」「태풍으로 인해」「스트레스로 인해」 do more than simply provide background; they explain where the following result comes from.

This pattern often appears with nouns referring to events or conditions such as weather, accidents, malfunctions, institutions, and economic circumstances. If you are simply telling a friend, “I’m tired, so I’m going to bed early,” using 「피곤해서」 is much more natural. Changing it to 「피로로 인해」 makes the sentence noticeably more like a report or explanatory text.

How 「(으)로 인해」 Is Used｜Presenting an Event or Phenomenon as an Objective Cause

The most typical function of 「(으)로 인해」 is to place a noun expressing the cause first and then describe the result affected by that cause. News reports, traffic information, medical explanations, and public announcements often use this structure because the focus of the sentence is the causal relationship rather than the speaker’s emotions.

• Example:  눈병으로 인해 결석한 학생이 많아졌다.
  Romanization: nun-byeong-eu-ro in-hae gyeol-seok-han hak-saeng-i man-a-jyeot-da.
  Translation: The number of students absent due to eye infections increased.
  「눈병」 is the cause of the absences, and the sentence directly describes an observable result.
• Example:  태풍으로 인해 항공기 운항이 차질을 빚고 있다.
  Romanization: tae-pung-eu-ro in-hae hang-gong-gi un-hang-i cha-jil-eul bit-go it-da.
  Translation: Flight operations are being disrupted by the typhoon.
  This kind of sentence has a tone similar to traffic news or airline information.

What Is the Difference Between 「인해」「인한」「인하여」? Look at Whether a Result or a Noun Follows

「인해」「인한」「인하여」 all come from the verb 「인하다」 and are all related to the idea of something becoming a cause, but they play different roles once placed in a sentence. Both 「인해」 and 「인하여」 can connect a preceding cause to the result that follows, with 「인해」 being the shorter form. 「인한」, however, is not used to directly introduce a complete result. It appears before a noun and forms a noun phrase meaning something caused by a particular reason.

Therefore, when you see 「태풍으로 인해」, the sentence will usually continue by explaining what the typhoon caused. When you see 「태풍으로 인한 피해」, 「인한」 is already directly modifying the noun 「피해」. These three forms should not be distinguished only by asking which one is more formal. It is more accurate to first look at what follows them in the sentence.

Comparison	「(으)로 인해」	「(으)로 인한」	「(으)로 인하여」
Basic meaning	due to / because of	caused by / resulting from	due to / because of
Role in the sentence	Connects the cause to the following result	Modifies the following noun	Connects the cause to the following result
Commonly followed by	A complete result or statement	A noun	A complete result or statement
Form	Common shortened form of 「인하여」	Adnominal form of 「인하다」	Fuller connective form
Common contexts	News articles, announcements, customer service notices, reports	Headlines, notice items, noun phrases	Formal documents, written descriptions, fuller formal sentences
Example	태풍으로 인해 항공편이 지연되고 있습니다.	태풍으로 인한 항공편 지연	태풍으로 인하여 항공편이 지연되고 있습니다.
Nuance of the example	Flights are being delayed due to the typhoon	Flight delays caused by the typhoon	Flights are being delayed due to the typhoon, using the fuller form

▌「인해」 vs 「인한」｜Connecting to a Result vs Directly Modifying a Noun

The clearest difference between 「인해」 and 「인한」 is what follows them. After 「(으)로 인해」, the sentence continues by explaining what happened, such as a delay, cancellation, damage, or change. 「(으)로 인한」, by contrast, appears directly before a noun and turns the following noun into something caused by the stated reason.

For example, 「폭설로 인해 배송이 지연되고 있습니다」 is a complete statement explaining that heavy snow has caused a delivery delay. If it is changed to 「폭설로 인한 배송 지연」, the whole expression becomes the noun phrase “delivery delays caused by heavy snow,” making it suitable for an announcement title or item heading.

• Example: 폭설로 인해 배송이 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-hae bae-song-i ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Deliveries are being delayed due to heavy snow.
  「인해」 is followed directly by the result 「배송이 지연되고 있습니다」, linking the cause to the subsequent situation.
• 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.
  「인한」 is followed by the noun 「배송 지연」, and the entire expression 「폭설로 인한 배송 지연」 means “delivery delays caused by heavy snow.”

▌「인해」 vs 「인하여」｜The Meaning Stays the Same, but the Forms Differ in Fullness

「인해」 and 「인하여」 perform the same function in this usage: both connect the preceding cause to the following result. 「인해」 can be understood as a shortened form of 「인하여」, so the two can often be interchanged without changing the basic causal relationship.

The main difference lies in how the text is presented. 「인해」 is more concise and very common in news, announcements, and general formal explanations. 「인하여」 retains the fuller form and therefore looks more distinctly written. This does not mean that formal contexts must always use 「인하여」. Many formal notices naturally use 「인해」 as well.

• Example: 시스템 오류로 인해 결제가 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-hae gyeol-je-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Payment processing is being delayed due to a system error.
  「인해」 is the shorter form and is commonly seen in customer service notices and service announcements.
• Example: 시스템 오류로 인하여 결제가 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-ha-yeo gyeol-je-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Payment processing is being delayed due to a system error.
  The cause and result have not changed; the sentence simply uses the fuller 「인하여」, giving it a more pronounced written feel.

▌「인한」 vs 「인하여」｜A Modifier Before a Noun vs Connecting a Cause to a Result

「인한」 and 「인하여」 cannot be treated as merely two versions of different lengths because their positions in the sentence are different. 「인한」 requires a noun after it, as in 「사고로 인한 피해」 and 「스트레스로 인한 증상」. 「인하여」 continues into a complete result, as in 「사고로 인하여 도로가 통제되었다」.

Therefore, if you want to say “damage caused by heavy rain,” you can use 「호우로 인한 피해」. If you want to say “roads were flooded due to heavy rain,” the cause needs to continue into the result, so a structure such as 「호우로 인하여 도로가 침수되었다」 fits.

• Example: 호우로 인한 피해가 계속 늘고 있습니다.
  Romanization: ho-u-ro in-han pi-hae-ga gye-sok neul-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Damage caused by heavy rain continues to increase.
  「인한」 directly modifies the noun 「피해」, referring to “damage caused by heavy rain.”
• Example: 호우로 인하여 일부 도로가 침수되었습니다.
  Romanization: ho-u-ro in-ha-yeo il-bu do-ro-ga chim-su-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Some roads were flooded due to heavy rain.
  「인하여」 is followed by the complete result 「일부 도로가 침수되었습니다」 and is not being used to directly modify 「도로」.

▌Even When All Three Mean “Due to the Typhoon,” They Look Different in a Sentence

Suppose the cause is 「태풍」 in every case. The causal relationship expressed by 「인해」「인한」「인하여」 does not suddenly change; what matters is how the sentence is going to continue. If you want to continue by stating that flights were canceled, you can use 「인해」 or 「인하여」. If you only need the noun phrase “flight cancellations caused by the typhoon,” use 「인한」 instead.

• Example: 태풍으로 인해 일부 항공편이 결항되었습니다.
  Romanization: tae-pung-eu-ro in-hae il-bu hang-gong-pyeon-i gyeol-hang-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Some flights were canceled due to the typhoon.
  「인해」 is followed directly by a complete result.
• Example: 태풍으로 인한 항공편 결항이 이어지고 있습니다.
  Romanization: tae-pung-eu-ro in-han hang-gong-pyeon gyeol-hang-i i-eo-ji-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Flight cancellations caused by the typhoon are continuing.
  「인한」 modifies 「항공편 결항」, first combining the cause and the event into a noun phrase.
• Example: 태풍으로 인하여 일부 항공편이 결항되었습니다.
  Romanization: tae-pung-eu-ro in-ha-yeo il-bu hang-gong-pyeon-i gyeol-hang-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Some flights were canceled due to the typhoon.
  The structure is the same as in the first sentence, but it uses the fuller form 「인하여」.

What Is the Difference Between 「로 인해」「때문에」「-기 때문에」? They Put the Cause into the Sentence Differently

「(으)로 인해」「때문에」「-기 때문에」 can all express a reason, but the difference is not limited to formality. 「(으)로 인해」 mainly follows nouns and often treats events such as accidents, weather conditions, and malfunctions as causes of subsequent effects. 「때문에」 can also directly follow a noun and is very common in everyday conversation, with a more direct tone than 「(으)로 인해」. 「-기 때문에」 can bring verbs or adjectives into the reason clause, making it suitable when the cause itself is not a single noun but an event or state that is happening, has happened, or exists in a particular condition.

For example, 「폭설로 인해 배송이 지연되고 있습니다」 packages 「폭설」 as the event causing the delivery delay. 「폭설 때문에 배송이 늦어졌어요」 also means that heavy snow caused the delay, but it sounds closer to an everyday explanation of the reason. If you want to say “because it snowed heavily,” the cause itself is the event 「눈이 많이 오다」, so you can say 「눈이 많이 왔기 때문에 배송이 늦어졌어요」.

Comparison	「(으)로 인해」	「때문에」	「-기 때문에」
Basic meaning	due to / as a result of	because of / due to	because / since
Mainly follows	Nouns	Nouns	Verbs and adjectives; nouns can use 「(이)기 때문에」
How the cause is presented	Packages an event or phenomenon as a noun cause	Directly identifies a noun as the cause	Treats a complete action, state, or judgment as the cause
Register	Relatively formal and written	Common in both spoken and written language	Used in both spoken and written language
Everyday conversation	Relatively uncommon	Very common	Very common
Announcements, news, reports	Very common	Can be used	Can be used
Common types of cause	Weather, accidents, malfunctions, institutions, events	People, events, things, and situations	Actions, states, facts, judgments
Example	폭설로 인해 배송이 지연되고 있습니다.	폭설 때문에 배송이 늦어졌어요.	눈이 많이 왔기 때문에 배송이 늦어졌어요.
Nuance of the example	Treats heavy snow as the event causing the delivery delay	Directly says heavy snow caused the delay	Explains that “it snowed heavily” is the reason for the delay

▌「로 인해」 vs 「때문에」｜Both Can Follow Nouns, but They Present the Cause Differently

Both 「(으)로 인해」 and 「때문에」 can directly follow nouns, so 「시스템 오류로 인해」 and 「시스템 오류 때문에」 can both mean “because of a system error.” The difference lies in how the sentence presents that cause.

「(으)로 인해」 often treats the preceding noun as an event or situation and then explains the effect it caused, so it frequently appears in announcements, news, and customer service notices. 「때문에」 has a more everyday range of use and can simply state that something is the cause without framing the sentence like an informational announcement.

• Example: 시스템 오류로 인해 결제가 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-hae gyeol-je-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Payment processing is being delayed due to a system error.
  The whole sentence sounds like a customer service notice, treating 「시스템 오류」 as the event behind the current situation and then explaining how payment processing is affected.
• Example: 시스템 오류 때문에 결제가 늦어졌어요.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu ttae-mun-e gyeol-je-ga neu-jeo-jyeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: Payment processing became slower because of a system error.
  This also identifies the system error as the cause, but the sentence sounds more like a direct explanation of why the processing became slower and is natural in everyday conversation as well.

▌「로 인해」 vs 「-기 때문에」｜A Noun Event Causes an Effect vs a Complete Action or State Becomes the Cause

The cause before 「(으)로 인해」 is usually already expressed as a noun, such as 「폭설」「사고」「스트레스」「시스템 오류」. 「-기 때문에」, by contrast, can preserve the action or state itself, such as 「눈이 많이 오다」「교통량이 많다」「자료가 부족하다」. Both may be translated as “because” in English, but the Korean sentence structures are different.

For example, 「폭설로 인해」 compresses the cause into the event noun “heavy snow,” while 「눈이 많이 왔기 때문에」 directly says “because it snowed heavily.” If what you actually want to explain is the action or state itself, there is no need to first rewrite it as a noun and then force it into 「(으)로 인해」.

• Example: 폭설로 인해 도로가 통제되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-hae do-ro-ga tong-je-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The road is being restricted due to heavy snow.
  「폭설」 is an event noun, and the sentence directly explains the traffic impact it caused.
• Example: 눈이 너무 많이 왔기 때문에 도로가 통제되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: nu-ni neo-mu ma-ni wat-gi ttae-mun-e do-ro-ga tong-je-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The road is being restricted because it snowed too heavily.
  The cause remains the complete statement 「눈이 너무 많이 왔다」, and 「-기 때문에」 is then used to explain that this situation caused the road restriction.

▌「때문에」 vs 「-기 때문에」｜Using a Noun Directly as the Cause vs Treating an Entire Event as the Cause

The relationship between 「때문에」 and 「-기 때문에」 can first be understood by looking at what comes before them. The most direct form of 「때문에」 is 「noun＋때문에」, as in 「교통사고 때문에」「날씨 때문에」. 「-기 때문에」 attaches to a verb or adjective and turns the entire action or state into the cause.

Therefore, 「교통사고 때문에 길이 막혔어요」 only identifies the event “traffic accident,” while 「앞에서 교통사고가 났기 때문에 길이 막혔어요」 states the whole situation, “a traffic accident happened up ahead.” Both sentences are natural; they simply provide different amounts of information about the cause.

• Example: 교통사고 때문에 길이 많이 막혔어요.
  Romanization: gyo-tong-sa-go ttae-mun-e gi-ri ma-ni ma-kyeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: Traffic was very congested because of a traffic accident.
  The cause before it is only the noun 「교통사고」, directly identifying the reason for the congestion.
• Example: 앞에서 교통사고가 났기 때문에 길이 많이 막혔어요.
  Romanization: a-pe-seo gyo-tong-sa-go-ga nat-gi ttae-mun-e gi-ri ma-ni ma-kyeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: Traffic was very congested because there had been an accident up ahead.
  The entire statement 「앞에서 교통사고가 났다」 is placed in the reason portion, giving more complete information than the simple 「교통사고 때문에」.

▌When a Noun Is Used with 「-기 때문에」, It Becomes 「Noun＋(이)기 때문에」

「-기 때문에」 is not formed by simply attaching 「-기」 directly to every noun. A noun must first combine with 「이다」 and then take 「-기 때문에」, forming 「noun＋(이)기 때문에」. For example, 「학생이기 때문에」 means “because someone is a student,” while 「휴가철이기 때문에」 means “because it is the holiday season.”

After a noun without batchim, you may sometimes see the 「이」 omitted, as in 「부자기 때문에」; 「부자이기 때문에」 is also correct. This expresses something different from 「noun＋때문에」. 「학생 때문에」 means “because of the student,” while 「학생이기 때문에」 means “because [someone] is a student.”

• Example: 휴가철이기 때문에 관광객이 많아요.
  Romanization: hyu-ga-cheo-ri-gi ttae-mun-e gwan-gwang-gae-gi ma-na-yo.
  Translation: There are many tourists because it is the holiday season.
  The cause is the judgment that “it is currently the holiday season,” so the structure 「휴가철＋이다＋-기 때문에」 is used.
• Example: 휴가철 때문에 길이 많이 막혀요.
  Romanization: hyu-ga-cheol ttae-mun-e gi-ri ma-ni ma-kyeo-yo.
  Translation: The roads are very congested because of the holiday season.
  This sentence directly treats 「휴가철」 as a noun cause of the traffic congestion. It is not expressing the complete judgment “because it is the holiday season.”

▌With the Same Result of “Delivery Delay,” the Three Cause Expressions Put Information in Different Places

Suppose the result is “delivery delay” in every case. All three patterns can introduce the cause, but they select different units of information. 「(으)로 인해」 readily places an event noun such as “heavy snow” first. 「때문에」 directly identifies what caused the problem. 「-기 때문에」 can preserve the entire situation “it snowed heavily” as the cause.

• Example: 폭설로 인해 배송이 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-hae bae-song-i ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Deliveries are being delayed due to heavy snow.
  It sounds like a formal notice, treating 「폭설」 as the event causing the current effect.
• Example: 폭설 때문에 배송이 늦어지고 있어요.
  Romanization: pok-seol ttae-mun-e bae-song-i neu-jeo-ji-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: Deliveries are being delayed because of the heavy snow.
  It directly identifies 「폭설」 as the reason for the delay and sounds natural in both general explanations and conversation.
• Example: 눈이 많이 왔기 때문에 배송이 늦어지고 있어요.
  Romanization: nu-ni ma-ni wat-gi ttae-mun-e bae-song-i neu-jeo-ji-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: Deliveries are being delayed because it snowed heavily.
  The cause is not a single noun but the complete situation 「눈이 많이 왔다」, so 「-기 때문에」 is used.

How Is 「(으)로 인해」 Used in Everyday Life in Korea? Three Common Formal Situations

Although 「(으)로 인해」 is not one of the reason expressions most likely to come up in casual conversation with friends, it is actually very easy to encounter in daily life in Korea. Flight delays, subway disruptions, online shopping, and customer service notices often use 「(으)로 인해」 when an event needs to be presented as the cause before explaining what is currently being affected. It is usually preceded by nouns referring to weather, accidents, construction, system errors, and similar events, followed by results such as delays, cancellations, restrictions, or other effects. Rather than simply saying “because of something,” this form is more like an explanation of what caused the current situation.

▌Situation ①｜A Flight Is Delayed at the Airport, and Customer Service Explains That It Is Due to a Typhoon

A：항공편이 왜 지연되고 있나요?
　　hang-gong-pyeo-ni wae ji-yeon-doe-go in-na-yo?
　　Why is the flight being delayed?

B：태풍으로 인해 항공기 운항이 지연되고 있습니다.
　　tae-pung-eu-ro in-hae hang-gong-gi un-hang-i ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
　　Flight operations are being delayed due to the typhoon.

📌 Grammar Point: 「태풍으로 인해」 places 「태풍」 directly in the position of the cause, then explains how the flight is being affected. This expression works well when an airline, airport, or transportation authority needs to explain the cause of a delay because the focus of the sentence is on “what is currently happening and what caused it,” without requiring the speaker’s personal feelings or judgment. In casual conversation, if you simply want to say “the plane was late because of the typhoon,” 「태풍 때문에」 is closer to everyday speech.

▌Situation ②｜Online Shopping Processing Slows Down, and Customer Service Explains a System Error

A：주문 처리가 왜 늦어지고 있나요?
　　ju-mun cheo-ri-ga wae neu-jeo-ji-go in-na-yo?
　　Why is order processing getting slower?

B：시스템 오류로 인해 주문 처리가 지연되고 있습니다.
　　si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-hae ju-mun cheo-ri-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
　　Order processing is being delayed due to a system error.

📌 Grammar Point: 「시스템 오류로 인해」 treats the “system error” as the cause of the subsequent situation, while 「주문 처리가 지연되고 있습니다」 explains the current effect. Customer service notices often need to explain the source of a problem first and then describe the current status of the service, so 「(으)로 인해」 is natural in this type of sentence. If coworkers are simply talking casually about why order processing has slowed down, 「시스템 오류 때문에 늦어지고 있어요」 also works, but it sounds less like a formal notice.

▌Situation ③｜Subway Trains Are Delayed, and Traffic Information Explains That Track Inspection Is Underway

A：오늘 2호선 열차가 왜 늦게 오나요?
　　o-neul i-ho-seon yeol-cha-ga wae neut-ge o-na-yo?
　　Why are Line 2 trains arriving late today?

B：선로 점검으로 인해 일부 구간의 열차 운행이 지연되고 있습니다.
　　seol-lo jeom-geom-eu-ro in-hae il-bu gu-ga-nui yeol-cha un-haeng-i ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
　　Train operations are being delayed on some sections due to track inspection.

📌 Grammar Point: 「선로 점검으로 인해」 treats “track inspection” as the event causing the train delay, then explains the affected area and result. Transportation announcements often follow this information order: first the cause, then which services, sections, or trains are currently affected. In addition to 「점검」, expressions such as 「공사로 인해」「사고로 인해」「폭설로 인해」 also commonly appear in similar transportation notices.

Usage Notes:

1. 「(으)로 인해」 mainly follows nouns, and 「(으)로」 changes according to whether the noun ends in a batchim. With no batchim, use 「로 인해」, as in 「사고로 인해」. With a batchim other than ㄹ, use 「으로 인해」, as in 「태풍으로 인해」. With the ㄹ batchim, use 「로 인해」, so 「폭설」 becomes 「폭설로 인해」. In practice, this follows the normal attachment rules of the particle 「(으)로」.
2. 「(으)로 인해」 most commonly combines with nouns that can be treated as events or situations, such as 「태풍」「사고」「공사」「시스템 오류」「스트레스」. If you want to preserve the cause as a complete action or state, such as “because it snowed heavily,” saying 「눈이 많이 왔기 때문에」 is more natural than first rewriting the entire event as a noun and attaching 「(으)로 인해」. Both patterns may be translated as “because” in English, but the Korean structures used to express the cause are different.
3. 「(으)로 인해」 is not limited to negative results. For example, 「기술 발전으로 인해 생활이 편리해졌다」 can mean “Life became more convenient due to technological development.” Traffic disruptions, accidents, malfunctions, and weather effects particularly often require a formal explanation of the cause, which is why 「(으)로 인해」 frequently appears with negative effects in news and announcements. If a sentence specifically wants to emphasize that a positive result was achieved “thanks to” something, expressions such as 「덕분에」 or 「-에 힘입어」 can also be considered depending on the meaning. Not every positive cause needs to be expressed with 「(으)로 인해」.

How Should Korean 「로 인해」 Be Understood in Comparison with Japanese 「〜により／〜によって」?

Korean 「(으)로 인해」 and Japanese 「〜により／〜によって」 can both place a noun in the position of a cause and then explain what result that cause produced. As a result, very similar sentences often appear in the two languages in news, announcements, and formal explanations. For example, 「태풍으로 인해 항공편이 지연되고 있습니다」 and 「台風により、航空便が遅れています」 both first identify the typhoon and then explain how flights are being affected.

However, these three forms cannot simply be fixed as one-to-one translations. Korean 「(으)로 인해」 mainly deals with cause and result. Japanese 「〜によって」 can express not only cause but also means, method, the agent in a passive sentence, and differences depending on the person or situation. 「〜により」 is a more written form of 「〜によって」, but it is also not restricted to expressing cause. When comparing Korean and Japanese, first determine what 「により／によって」 is actually expressing in the Japanese sentence.

◆ Similar Grammar: 「〜により」

Japanese 「〜により」 can be used to express a cause. It has a relatively written tone and frequently appears in announcements, notices, news, and formal documents. In this respect, it is very similar to Korean 「(으)로 인해」, especially when weather, construction, accidents, system problems, and similar causes result in subsequent effects.

For example, a traffic notice saying 「工事により、道路が通行止めになっています」 treats 「工事」 as the cause of the road closure. In Korean, this can be expressed as 「공사로 인해 도로가 통제되고 있습니다」. Both sentences focus on the relationship between the event and the result, rather than directly saying “because of construction” as in casual conversation.

• Example: 공사로 인해 도로가 통제되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: gong-sa-ro in-hae do-ro-ga tong-je-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The road is currently restricted due to construction.
  In Japanese, you can say 「工事により、道路が通行止めになっています」.
• Example: 시스템 오류로 인해 결제가 지연되고 있습니다.
  Romanization: si-seu-tem o-ryu-ro in-hae gyeol-je-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Payment processing is being delayed due to a system error.
  In Japanese, you can say 「システム障害により、決済処理が遅れています」.
• Example: 지하철 개통으로 인해 통근이 편해졌습니다.
  Romanization: ji-ha-cheol gae-tong-eu-ro in-hae tong-geu-ni pyeon-hae-jyeot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Commuting became more convenient due to the opening of the subway.
  In Japanese, you can say 「地下鉄の開通により、通勤が便利になりました」.

If 「〜により」 is changed to 「〜による＋noun」, the structure becomes even closer to Korean 「(으)로 인한＋noun」. For example, 「大雨による被害」 means “damage caused by heavy rain” and can be compared with Korean 「호우로 인한 피해」. In both languages, the cause is first incorporated into a modifier, followed by the noun affected by it.

◆ Similar Grammar: 「〜によって」

Japanese 「〜によって」 can also indicate that a noun causes the following result, and in this use it overlaps considerably with Korean 「(으)로 인해」. Compared with 「〜により」, 「〜によって」 sounds less like formal administrative writing and can also be used in ordinary descriptions.

For example, 「大雪によって列車の運行が停止した」 means that heavy snow caused train operations to stop, and in Korean this can be expressed as 「폭설로 인해 열차 운행이 중단되었다」. If 「〜によって」 in the sentence is genuinely expressing a cause, the two can often be understood in very similar ways.

• Example: 폭설로 인해 열차 운행이 중단되었습니다.
  Romanization: pok-seol-lo in-hae yeol-cha un-haeng-i jung-dan-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: Train operations were suspended due to heavy snow.
  In Japanese, you can say 「大雪によって、列車の運行が停止しました」.
• Example: 화재로 인해 건물이 손상되었습니다.
  Romanization: hwa-jae-ro in-hae geon-mu-ri son-sang-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The building was damaged due to the fire.
  In Japanese, you can say 「火災によって建物が損傷しました」.
• Example: 스트레스로 인해 불면증을 겪는 사람들이 늘고 있습니다.
  Romanization: seu-teu-re-seu-ro in-hae bul-myeon-jjeung-eul gyeok-neun sa-ram-deu-ri neul-go it-seum-ni-da.
  Translation: The number of people suffering from insomnia due to stress is increasing.
  In Japanese, you can say 「ストレスによって不眠に悩む人が増えています」.

However, the range of meanings covered by 「〜によって」 is much broader than that of 「(으)로 인해」. When you see 「によって」, you cannot replace it directly with 「(으)로 인해」 simply because it could be translated as “by,” “because of,” or “through.” You first need to determine whether it is expressing a cause or performing another function in the sentence.

◆ When 「〜によって」 Does Not Express a Cause, It Cannot Be Replaced with 「(으)로 인해」

Japanese 「〜によって」 has several common uses that are not directly related to Korean 「(으)로 인해」. The most typical are means, the agent in a passive sentence, and variation depending on the person or object. These sentences may also be translated with words such as “by,” “through,” or “depending on” in English, but Korean requires different expressions.

For example, in 「この絵はピカソによって描かれた」, 「ピカソによって」 identifies the agent of the passive sentence—that is, “this painting was painted by Picasso.” Korean uses 「피카소에 의해 그려졌다」, not 「피카소로 인해」. Picasso is not a “cause” producing a result; he is the person performing the action of painting.

• Example: この絵はピカソによって描かれました。
  Kana: このえは ピカソによって えがかれました。
  Translation: This painting was painted by Picasso.
  In Korean, you can say 「이 그림은 피카소에 의해 그려졌습니다」.

Likewise, in 「インターネットによって情報を集める」, 「によって」 expresses means and can be understood as “gather information through the internet.” Depending on the sentence, Korean can use an expression such as 「인터넷을 통해 정보를 모으다」 rather than 「인터넷으로 인해」, because the internet is the method being used, not the cause of a result.

• Example: インターネットによって情報を集めることができます。
  Kana: インターネットによって じょうほうを あつめることができます。
  Translation: You can gather information through the internet.
  In Korean, you can say 「인터넷을 통해 정보를 모을 수 있습니다」.

「人によって考え方が違う」 means that ways of thinking vary from person to person, so the preceding 「人」 is not a cause either. In Korean, this is closer to 「사람마다 생각이 다르다」 and cannot be changed to 「사람으로 인해」.

• Example: 人によって考え方が違います。
  Kana: ひとによって かんがえかたが ちがいます。
  Translation: People think differently depending on the individual.
  In Korean, you can say 「사람마다 생각이 다릅니다」.

◆ Key Differences from Japanese 「〜により／〜によって」:

Korean 「(으)로 인해」 can first be understood quite simply as “a noun expressing a cause produces the result that follows.” An accident causes a delay, a typhoon causes flight cancellations, or a system error causes a payment problem—sentences like these are easy to compare with Japanese causal 「〜により／〜によって」.

Japanese 「〜により」 is generally more written than 「〜によって」, so it often appears in announcements, notices, and formal explanations. Korean 「(으)로 인해」 is also relatively formal, so the two often have similar tones in news, traffic information, and customer service notices. 「〜による＋noun」 can also be learned alongside Korean 「(으)로 인한＋noun」, as in 「大雨による被害／호우로 인한 피해」.

The form that particularly requires separate judgment is Japanese 「〜によって」. If the sentence does not mean that “something caused a result,” it cannot simply be replaced with 「(으)로 인해」. When it marks the agent in a passive sentence, Korean may use 「에 의해」; when it expresses means, Korean may use 「(으)로」 or 「을/를 통해」; when it means that something differs depending on the person or situation, forms such as 「마다」 may be used. When you see 「により／によって」, first check whether the preceding noun is the cause of the following result before deciding whether it can be understood together with 「(으)로 인해」.

Korean 「(으)로 인해」 appears most often in news, announcements, and various kinds of formal explanations. It is usually preceded by nouns referring to accidents, weather, system errors, institutional changes, and similar events, followed by the result that is affected. When a noun needs to be modified, the form changes to 「(으)로 인한」, while 「(으)로 인하여」 retains the fuller written form.

When you encounter a sentence expressing a reason, first check whether what comes before is a noun or a complete action or state. If it is a noun and the sentence as a whole is explaining an effect caused by an event, 「(으)로 인해」 is often a good fit. In ordinary conversation, however, 「때문에」 or 「-아/어서」 is more common. Several of these patterns may all be translated as “because” in English, but in Korean you still need to distinguish them according to their attachment patterns and the context in which the sentence is used.

FAQs

SUPPORT FENGNIII

喜歡這篇文章嗎？

如果這篇內容對你有幫助，可以透過小額贊助支持本站持續整理更多日文、韓文、旅行與數位工具內容。

小額支持本站

付款將由藍新金流安全處理