“おかげで” (okage de) and “せいで” (sei de) are two Japanese expressions that convey causality, but they are used in different contexts and carry slightly different meanings.
“おかげで” is used to express gratitude or acknowledgment for something positive that has happened as a result of someone’s action or influence. It is often translated as “thanks to” or “because of” in English. This phrase highlights the positive outcome or benefit that has been brought about by someone or something. For example, you might say “おかげで試験に合格しました” (I passed the exam thanks to you) to express gratitude for someone’s help or support that led to a positive result.
On the other hand, “せいで” is used to indicate a negative consequence or outcome resulting from a particular cause or reason. It is often translated as “because of” or “due to” in English. This phrase emphasizes the negative impact or undesirable consequence of a specific event or action. For instance, you might say “雨のせいでピクニックが中止になった” (The picnic was canceled due to the rain) to attribute the cancellation of a picnic to the negative influence of the rain.
In summary, while both “おかげで” and “せいで” indicate causality, “おかげで” is used to express gratitude or acknowledgment for a positive outcome, whereas “せいで” is used to highlight a negative consequence or outcome resulting from a particular cause.