由于 yóu yú
“due to; as a result of; thanks to”
preposition, conjunctionHSK 4 · 2021 list level 3Traditional 由於
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
由于 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1886: 由于 yóuyú — Level 4; official annotation 4 (介、连). PDF page 127
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 由于
由于 means “due to” or “because of” and introduces the cause of something. It is more formal than 因为 and often appears at the beginning of a sentence: 由于 + cause, result clause. The result clause may also use 所以 or 因此.
例句Example sentences
- 由于下雨，我们没去公园。yóu yú xià yǔ, wǒ men méi qù gōng yuán.Because of the rain, we didn’t go to the park.
- 由于工作很忙，他很少回家吃饭。yóu yú gōng zuò hěn máng, tā hěn shǎo huí jiā chī fàn.Because he is very busy with work, he rarely comes home for dinner.
- 由于堵车，我迟到了。yóu yú dǔ chē, wǒ chí dào le.I was late because of traffic.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗由于下雨，但是比赛取消了。
✓由于下雨，比赛取消了。
由于 introduces a cause, and the main clause should give the result; it is not paired with 但是.