Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "引き起こす", "因果", "角が立つ", "帰責事由"
All represent the core concept "cause", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
引き起こす
ひきおこす (hikiokosu)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
因果
いんが (inga)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
角が立つ
かどがたつ (kadogatatsu)
C1 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
帰責事由
きせきじゆう (kisekijiyuu)
C2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "cause" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "引き起こす", "因果", "角が立つ", "帰責事由" based on context.
- 引き起こす (ひきおこす (hikiokosu) - Level: N2): Maps to "to cause, to bring about, to trigger, to provoke" and is used when Often used for causing negative events like accidents, problems, or conflicts. Similar to もたらす but more commonly for negative consequences. Can also mean to pull someone up from lying down. 例: 問題を引き起こす.
- 因果 (いんが (inga) - Level: N2): Maps to "cause and effect; karma" and is used when Often used in philosophical or metaphorical contexts, referring to the chain of events or karma..
- 角が立つ (かどがたつ (kadogatatsu) - Level: C1): Maps to "Cause friction" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..
- 帰責事由 (きせきじゆう (kisekijiyuu) - Level: C2): Maps to "cause attributable to a party" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "引き起こす"
彼の不注意が大きな事故を引き起こした。
His carelessness caused a major accident.
Context for "因果"
善い行いをすれば善い因果が返ってくると言われる。
It is said that if you do good deeds, good karma (cause and effect) will return to you.
Context for "角が立つ"
私は角が立つに興味があります。
I am interested in Cause friction.
Context for "帰責事由"
私は帰責事由に興味があります。
I am interested in cause attributable to a party.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼の不注意が大きな事故を引き起こした。" (Meaning: "His carelessness caused a major accident.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "引き起こす" is correct here because it represents "to cause, to bring about, to trigger, to provoke" in the context: "His carelessness caused a major accident.".