JLPT N3 grammar
せい(で) — Meaning & Examples
"Because of" with NEGATIVE feeling. ALWAYS the result is bad and you're blaming the cause. あなたのせいで = it's your fault. Native ears immediately pick up the complaint tone.
せい — "Because of" (Blame)
せい ALWAYS carries a negative feeling — the result is bad, and you're blaming the cause.
Pattern: [noun/plain form] + せいで
雨のせいで、ピクニックが中止になった。
= Because of the rain, the picnic was cancelled. (annoyed!)
あなたのせいで、失敗した！
= It's your fault I failed!
寝不足のせいで、頭が痛い。
= Because of lack of sleep, my head hurts.
電車が遅れたせいで、遅刻した。
= Because the train was late, I was late.
Variants:
人のせいにするな！ = Don't blame other people!
それはわたしのせいじゃない。 = That's not my fault.
Key feature: Even if the cause itself is neutral (like rain), using せい makes it sound like you're COMPLAINING. Native speakers immediately pick up the negative tone.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on せい(で). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Which carries a NEGATIVE feeling (blame)?
- ため (tame)
- から (kara)
- おかげ (okage)
- せい (sei)
Show answer
Answer: せい (sei)
せい always implies negative outcome with blame. あなたのせいで = it's your fault!
2. Which carries a POSITIVE feeling (gratitude)?
- ため (tame)
- せい (sei)
- ので (node)
- おかげ (okage)
Show answer
Answer: おかげ (okage)
おかげ = thanks to (positive). 先生のおかげで = thanks to my teacher.
3. 雨の___、ピクニックが中止になった — you're ANNOYED:
- ため (tame)
- おかげで (okage de)
- せいで (sei de)
- ので (node)
Show answer
Answer: せいで (sei de)
せいで = blame / negative feeling. The picnic got cancelled — you're annoyed at the rain.
Practise せい(で) in the free app
This point is part of the “Cause and Effect — ため・せい・おかげ” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: Cause and Effect — ため・せい・おかげ
Frequently asked questions
What does せい(で) mean?
"Because of" with NEGATIVE feeling. ALWAYS the result is bad and you're blaming the cause. あなたのせいで = it's your fault. Native ears immediately pick up the complaint tone.
Is せい(で) on the JLPT N3 test?
せい(で) is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Cause and Effect — ため・せい・おかげ”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise せい(で)?
Open the “Cause and Effect — ため・せい・おかげ” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.