“由于” as Conjunction and Preposition

In Chinese, “由于” (yóuyú) has two functions: as a conjunction it states a cause; as a preposition it states a cause or grounds.

How it is translated

most often: because of … owing to … since …

“由于” opens the first clause of a complex sentence and states the cause. The second clause usually begins with “所以” or “因此”.

由于 + cause，所以 / 因此 + result

since …, therefore …

在中国，由于很多刚工作的年轻人工资还不太高，所以他们一开始也不买房，都选择租房

由于 + 很多刚工作的年轻人工资还不太高 since + many young people who just started working do not earn much yet

所以 + 他们一开始也不买房，都选择租房 so + at first they do not buy a home but choose to rent

由于 — because of … / since … 工资还不太高 — the salary is not yet very high 所以 — therefore 买房 — buy a home 租房 — rent a home

由于一直下大雨，所以我们决定不爬山了

由于 + 一直下大雨 since + it kept raining heavily

所以 + 我们决定不爬山了 so + we decided not to go climbing

一直 — continuously / all the time 下大雨 — rain heavily 决定 — decide 不爬山了 — not go climbing after all

As a preposition, “由于” likewise states a cause or grounds.

由于 + cause，result

In this case “所以” is not required.

由于大家的努力，这次运动会我们班获得了第一名

由于 + 大家的努力 thanks to + everyone’s effort

我们班获得了第一名 our class took first place

大家的努力 — everyone’s effort 这次运动会 — this sports meet 我们班 — our class 获得了第一名 — took first place

由于 + cause，所以 / 因此 + result since …, therefore …

由于一直下大雨，所以我们决定不爬山了

由于 + cause，result thanks to … / because of …

由于大家的努力，我们班获得了第一名