왜냐하면

Korean

Alternative forms

• 왜냐면 (waenyamyeon)

Etymology

Literally "if you want to know why." From 왜 (wae, “why”) +‎ 이 (i-, “be”, copula, elided) +‎ 냐 (-nya, interrogative suffix) +‎ 하 (ha-, “say”) +‎ 면 (-myeon, conditional conjunctive suffix).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [wɛɲa̠ɦa̠mjʌ̹n] ~ [we̞ɲa̠ɦa̠mjʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [왜냐하면/웨냐하면]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	waenyahamyeon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	waenyahamyeon
McCune–Reischauer?	waenyahamyŏn
Yale Romanization?	waynyahamyen

Adverb

왜냐하면 • (waenyahamyeon)

1. because; for the following reason.

   오늘 집에 일찍 가야 한다. 왜냐하면 아내가 아프기 때문이다.

   oneul jibe iljjik gaya handa. waenyahamyeon anaega apeugi ttaemunida.

   [I] have to go home early today. It's because [my] wife is sick.