cause
cause — 名詞
1. a person, thing, or event that makes something else happen — especially when the
原因；緣故
導致某事發生的因素
a person, thing, or event that makes something else happen — especially when the result is unwanted or harmful.
The heavy rain was the main cause of the flooding in the village.
大雨是村莊淹水的主要原因。
cause of [something] — identifying what makes something happen
Doctors are still trying to find the cause of her illness.
醫生仍在設法找出她生病的原因。
A loose wire was the cause of the fire in the warehouse.
一條鬆脫的電線是倉庫火災的起因。
Without a clear cause, the police had trouble explaining the crash.
在沒有明確原因的情況下，警方很難解釋這起車禍。
文法句型
cause of [something]
cause for [feeling]
用法筆記
Use 'cause of' followed by the result (e.g. cause of the delay), not 'cause for' which belongs to sense 2. Frequently used with definite determiners (the cause, a cause).
常見錯誤
2. a good or acceptable reason for having a particular emotion or for acting in a c
理由；根據
產生某種感受或行為的依據
a good or acceptable reason for having a particular emotion or for acting in a certain way.
The new policy gave the staff no cause for concern.
這項新政策讓員工沒有理由擔心。
cause for [concern/worry] — typical noun after 'for'
Leila's excellent exam results were a cause for celebration.
Leila 優異的考試成績值得慶祝。
The lawyer argued that the defendant had just cause to refuse the search.
律師辯稱被告有正當理由拒絕搜查。
There is no cause for alarm — the smoke came from a burned toast.
沒有理由驚慌——煙霧來自烤焦的吐司。
- grounds
more formal and often legal; 'grounds for complaint'
- justification
stronger, implies a moral or logical basis
- reason
general and less formal; 'reason' works in most contexts
文法句型
cause for [noun]
cause to [verb]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense is uncountable and takes 'cause for' (not 'cause of'). Common in fixed phrases: 'just cause', 'without cause', 'good cause'. Typical objects are feelings: concern, alarm, complaint, celebration.
常見錯誤
3. an idea, goal, or set of principles that people believe in and work actively to
理念；事業
人們積極支持的理念或目標
an idea, goal, or set of principles that people believe in and work actively to uphold, especially when they see it as morally important.
Aiko has devoted her life to the cause of environmental protection.
Aiko 一生致力於環保事業。
the cause of [principle] — identifying the movement
Donations from around the world poured in to support the cause.
來自世界各地的捐款源源不絕地湧入，支持這項理念。
A veteran union leader fought for the cause of workers' rights throughout his career.
一位資深的工會領袖在其職業生涯中為勞工權益奮鬥不懈。
Many young volunteers joined the cause after seeing the documentary.
許多年輕志工看完紀錄片後加入了這項運動。
The cause of world peace is one that unites people across borders.
世界和平的理念是能跨越國界團結眾人的目標。
文法句型
[adjective] cause
in the cause of [something]
fight for a cause
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives that add moral weight: 'good cause', 'worthy cause', 'noble cause'. The collocation 'lost cause' (a hopeless effort) is a fixed idiom. This sense is followed by 'of' when specifying the goal (the cause of justice).
4. a legal case put before a judge, or the basis on which someone initiates a legal
訴訟；案件
提交法院審理的法律案件
a legal case put before a judge, or the basis on which someone initiates a legal proceeding.
The judge will hear the cause in the high court next Monday.
法官將於下週一在高等法院審理此案。
hear a cause — fixed verb collocation in legal context
The lawyer prepared the cause carefully before presenting it to the jury.
律師在向陪審團陳述之前仔細準備了案件。
The cause was dismissed because the evidence was not strong enough.
由於證據不足，該訴訟被駁回。
A famous human rights lawyer agreed to argue their cause in court.
一位著名的人權律師同意在法庭上為他們的案件辯護。
用法筆記
Restricted to legal contexts. Not a synonym for the everyday word 'case' — use 'cause' only when a formal legal proceeding is implied. In modern usage, 'cause of action' is more common than 'cause' alone.
常見錯誤
cause — 動詞
1. to produce an event or result, typically one that is not desired; to be the dire
造成；導致
使某事發生，尤指不好的事
to produce an event or result, typically one that is not desired; to be the direct factor that leads a person or thing to act or change in a given way.
The storm caused serious damage to homes along the coast.
暴風雨對沿海地區的房屋造成了嚴重損壞。
cause + [damage/harm] — typical object pattern
What caused the engine to stop working in the middle of the highway?
是什麼導致引擎在高速公路中央停止運轉？
cause + [somebody/something] + to infinitive
Hana's careless remark caused a lot of trouble between the two friends.
Hana 那句不經思考的話在兩個朋友之間引起了很大的麻煩。
The cold weather caused the pipes to freeze overnight.
寒冷的天氣導致水管在一夜之間結冰。
Ravi's long absence caused his parents a great deal of worry.
Ravi 長期缺席讓他父母非常擔心。
- bring about
more neutral; can be used for both positive and negative results
- lead to
suggests a chain of events rather than a single direct cause
- result in
emphasizes the outcome rather than the agent
- provoke
stronger, implies the result was a reaction, often emotional
文法句型
cause [something]
cause [somebody] to [do something]
cause [somebody] [something]
用法筆記
Unlike 'make', 'cause' is not followed by a bare infinitive — you must use 'cause + object + to-infinitive'. The object is typically an abstract noun (trouble, damage, delay, concern) or an animate noun followed by 'to' + verb. Frequently used in the passive when the result is the focus: 'The accident was caused by a faulty brake.'
常見錯誤
cause — 連接詞
1. for the reason that; used in informal speech and writing as a shortened form of
因為
（非正式）因為
for the reason that; used in informal speech and writing as a shortened form of 'because'.
I stayed home cause I was feeling sick.
我待在家裡，因為我覺得不舒服。
informal spelling of 'because' — written as 'cause
Theo missed the train cause his alarm did not go off.
Theo 錯過了火車，因為他的鬧鐘沒響。
I can't come out tonight cause I have a big test tomorrow.
我今晚不能出門，因為明天有個大考。
Priya took the bus this morning cause her car was in the shop.
Priya 今天早上搭公車，因為她的車在修理廠。
文法句型
cause [clause], [clause]
用法筆記
This is a non-standard written form that mirrors casual speech. Avoid in formal writing, academic work, or professional emails. In writing that represents dialogue, it is acceptable. The spelling is often written without an apostrophe: 'cause (not 'cuz' which is even more informal).