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The posts
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/11877/reason-%E4%BA%8B%E7%94%B1%E3%81%98%E3%82%86%E3%81%86-vs-%E7%90%86%E7%94%B1%E3%82%8A%E3%82%86%E3%81%86)
and [here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/35904/what-is-the-
difference-
between-%E5%8E%9F%E5%9B%A0-and-%E8%A6%81%E5%9B%A0-%E8%A7%A3%E6%9E%90-and-%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90)
do not address the difference between 原因 and 理由.

So, in short, what are the difference in usage between these words? Both seem
to mean reason.

> 日本に来た理由は見つからない  
>  日本に来た原因は見つからない

その違いは？[中国語](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/33468/usage-
of-%E7%90%86%E7%94%B1-vs-%E5%8E%9F%E5%9B%A0)と同じでしょう？
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question
word-choice words usage
Difference between 原因 and 理由
According to jisho 理由 means "reason, motive" and 原因 means "cause, origin".
Thinking in terms of their translation 理由 would have something to do with your
goals (what do you want to get?, for what did you do it?) whereas 原因 would be
closer to "initial reason, cause" (what caused the accident? what happened and
made you do smth?)

Note that I only think in terms of english here but some examples seem to
correlate with my reasoning:

別の理由があるね？ (there is another reason isn't there?)

事故は彼の不注意が原因だった。(the accident was due to his carelessness.)
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原因 is _cause_ , whereas 理由 is _reason_. They are similar, but the former
assumes there was an observable but unexpected "event".

When you are describing the reason for something that is always true, you
should use 理由:

  * 素数が無限にある理由  
the reason why there are infinite prime numbers

  * 生きる理由  
the reason to live

In the following example, 原因 sounds like the speaker is asking about the
direct cause (e.g., traffic accident), whereas 理由 may sound like the speaker
is asking about more indirect or ultimate reasons (e.g., fate, grudge).

  * 彼が死んだ原因  
the cause of his death

  * 彼が死んだ理由  
the reason of his death
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