點解...係因為...

The Reason Why...is That...

Level 4Sounds Like dim2 gaai2 . . . hai6 jan1 wai6 . . .

Use 點解...係因為... (dim2 gaai2... hai6 jan1 wai6...) to highlight the explanation for something. It frames the result as a topic and the reason as the specific focus.

How It Works

In Cantonese, the standard cause-effect relationship is usually expressed with 因為...所以... (Because... therefore...). However, the 點解...係因為... pattern reverses this order to put the spotlight on the reason.

Structure:
Subject + 點解 (dim2 gaai2) + Verb Phrase + 呢 (ne1) / 嘅 (ge3) + , + 係因為 (hai6 jan1 wai6) + Reason Clause.

Key Components:

  • Subject Placement: The subject usually comes before 點解 (e.g., 佢點解... 'The reason why he...').
  • Topic Particles: The first clause may end with a particle like 呢 (ne1) or 嘅 (ge3), but it does not need one (see the examples). When used, it marks the first part of the sentence as the 'topic' we are about to explain.
  • The '係' (hai6): The word 係 (hai6) is essential. It acts as the bridge ('is') between the question and the answer.

This pattern is highly colloquial and used frequently in daily conversation to provide explanations with more weight or clarity.

Examples (4)

  1. 佢點解會贏呢，係因為佢好勤力。

    The reason why he won is because he is very hardworking.

    Word by Word: He why will win [particle], is because he very hardworking.

    The particle 呢 (ne1) creates a pause, setting up the listener for the explanation that follows 係因為 (hai6 jan1 wai6).

  2. 我點解唔去，係因為我唔舒服。

    Why I'm not going is because I don't feel well.

    Word by Word: I why not go, is because I not comfortable.

    This structure emphasizes the 'not feeling well' as the specific justification for not going.

  3. 呢間餐廳點解咁多人排隊，係因為佢啲嘢食好抵。

    The reason so many people are lining up for this restaurant is because the food is a great value.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] restaurant why so many people line up, is because its [plural] things eat very value.

    抵 (dai2) means 'worth it' or 'good value'. The pattern highlights the value as the reason for the crowd.

  4. 佢點解咁遲，係因為塞車。

    The reason he is so late is because of a traffic jam.

    Word by Word: He why so late, is because block car.

    塞車 (sak1 ce1) means traffic jam. This is a common way to explain a delay emphatically.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out 係 before 因為.

    Different Meaning佢點解唔嚟，因為佢病咗。
    佢點解唔嚟，係因為佢病咗。

    佢點解唔嚟，因為佢病咗 is natural: the speaker asks the question and answers it. Adding 係 (hai6) makes it one focus pattern, 'The reason why he isn't coming is that he's sick'.

  • Mixing formal and informal markers.

    點解佢唔去是因為佢好忙。
    佢點解唔去，係因為佢好忙。

    是因為 (si6 jan1 wai6) is Standard Written Chinese. In spoken Cantonese, always use 係因為 (hai6 jan1 wai6) to match the colloquial 點解 (dim2 gaai2).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

點解...係因為...Level 4The Reason Why...is That...

Learn This First

This pattern is a colloquial way to emphasize a reason by framing it as 'The reason why [X] is because [Y]'. To understand it, you need to be familiar with the basic question word for 'why' (點解), the conjunction for 'because' (因為), and how the verb 'to be' (係) connects clauses.

Words in This Pattern

点解因为