-(으)ㄴ/는 탓에
Used to identify the CAUSE of a negative or unfortunate result. It carries a nuance of blame or attribution — the first clause is the 'fault' that caused the bad outcome.
Summary
Equivalent
Due to / Because of (blame/fault)
Also: -는 바람에 (Unexpected sudden event causing negative result) · -(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에 (Thanks to... - positive result, opposite nuance)
Example
Because the weather is so hot, I don't want to go outside.
날씨가 너무 더운 탓에 밖에 나가기 싫어요.
Grammar rules
- Only used when the result is NEGATIVE.
- If you want to express a positive result, use '-(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에' (thanks to).
- '탓' literally means 'fault' or 'blame'.
- Can be used with nouns too: 'Noun + 탓에' (because of Noun's fault).
네 탓에 일이 잘못됐어요. (It's your fault things went wrong.) / 더위 탓에 잠을 못 잤어요. (I couldn't sleep because of the heat.)
Patterns
Verbs (Present)
Present · Verb Stem + 는 탓에
Verbs (Past)
Past · Verb Stem + (으)ㄴ 탓에
Adjectives (Present)
Present · Adjective Stem + (으)ㄴ 탓에
Example sentences
Because the weather is so hot, I don't want to go outside.
날씨가 너무 더운 탓에 밖에 나가기 싫어요.
My knee hurts because I overdid exercise.
무리하게 운동을 한 탓에 무릎이 아파요.
I'm gaining weight because I keep eating late-night snacks.
자꾸 야식을 먹는 탓에 살이 찌고 있어요.
Conversation
A: Why is your voice so hoarse?
목이 왜 그렇게 쉬었어요?
B: My throat hurts because I sang too much at the karaoke place yesterday.
어제 노래방에서 너무 많이 노래한 탓에 목이 아파요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct fault/blame causal expression.
Heavy rain (adj).
Lack of sleep.