鑑於

In View of

Level 6Sounds Like gaam3 jyu1

鑑於 (gaam3 jyu1) is a high-level formal connector used in professional, legal, or official contexts. It introduces a specific situation or premise that serves as the reason for a subsequent decision or policy change.

How It Works

1. Usage and Structure
鑑於 (gaam3 jyu1) typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause. It can be followed by a noun phrase or a short clause describing a situation. While usually sentence-initial, in high-level formal contexts, it can occasionally appear after the subject (e.g., 委員會鑑於... 'The committee, in view of...').

  • 鑑於 + [Situation], [Decision/Action]

2. Formal Register
This is a Level 6 pattern because it belongs to the Official Document Register. You will see it in news reports, government announcements, and business contracts. In casual conversation, speakers use 因為 (jan1 wai6) or simply 見 (gin3) to mean 'seeing as'.

3. Variants
A common variant is 有鑑於 (jau5 gaam3 jyu1), which adds a slightly more literary weight but carries the exact same meaning. Another related phrase used to conclude a thought based on 鑑於 is 有見及此 (jau5 gin3 kap6 ci2), meaning 'in view of this'.

4. Nuance vs. Other Reason Markers
While 由於 (jau4 jyu1) is a neutral 'due to', 鑑於 specifically highlights the consideration of a fact before taking an official step. It is the 'premise' for a deliberate action.

Examples (3)

  1. 鑑於疫情加劇，政府決定推遲選舉。

    In view of the worsening pandemic, the government has decided to postpone the election.

    Word by Word: In-view-of pandemic worsening, government decide postpone election.

    Here, 鑑於 (gaam3 jyu1) introduces the pandemic as the formal justification for the government's decision.

  2. 鑑於情況樂觀，當局調高咗全年經濟增長預測。

    In light of the favorable conditions, the authorities have revised upward the annual economic growth forecast.

    Word by Word: In-view-of situation optimistic, authorities adjust-high [perfective] whole-year economy growth forecast.

    This shows that 鑑於 (gaam3 jyu1) can be used for positive premises, not just crises.

  3. 有鑑於近日小偷經常出沒，大家要小心財物。

    In light of the recent uptick in theft, everyone should be careful with their belongings.

    Word by Word: Have in-view-of recent-days thieves often appear, everyone must careful property.

    This uses the variant 有鑑於 (jau5 gaam3 jyu1) to introduce a warning based on observed events.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern in casual, everyday conversation.

    鑑於我好肚餓，我而家去食飯。
    因為我好肚餓，所以我而家去食飯。

    鑑於 (gaam3 jyu1) is too formal for personal hunger. Use 因為 (jan1 wai6) for daily reasons.

  • Redundantly pairing it with 'so' (所以).

    Different Meaning鑑於天氣惡劣，所以比賽取消。
    鑑於天氣惡劣，比賽取消。

    In formal writing, 鑑於 (gaam3 jyu1) usually stands alone to introduce the premise. Adding 所以 (so2 ji5) is common in speech but considered less elegant in the formal register where this pattern lives.

How It Connects

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

鑑於Level 6In View of

Learn This First

鑑於 is a high-level formal conjunction used to introduce a reason or background situation (similar to 'in view of' or 'given that'). It belongs to the written register of Cantonese, requiring familiarity with formal sentence structures and the classical preposition 於.

Words in This Pattern

鉴于