What's the difference between 事由 "jiyuu" and 理由 "riyuu"? Both are translated
to mean "reason", as in why something happened.

I even noticed in [Tae Kim's Grammar
Guide](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/book/export/html/97) that both
words are listed, and both are translated "reason", but no distinction is made
between them.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-12T21:57:16.550
11877
2013-05-13T20:29:47.010
2013-05-13T20:29:47.010
3482
question
word-choice
"Reason": [事由]{じゆう} vs. [理由]{りゆう}
Just for future reference, these type of questions always have the same
answer:

Look at the 漢字 in these words. 事 means "thing, matter", whereas 理 is
"principle, logic". Thus 事由 is a cause in the circumstantial sense, but a 理由
is a reason in the logical sense.

That said, 事由 sounds more formal and 理由 is certainly the more common word. (In
spoken language, it is also possible to mistake 事由 for 自由, which is also a
very common word. Yet another reason to use 理由 over 事由.)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-12T23:05:45.127
11878
2013-05-12T23:05:45.127
1628
11877
answer