In 15 Seconds
- Used to provide a factual justification for a decision or result.
- Place it at the start of the sentence followed by the reason.
- Best for professional, academic, or serious logistical contexts.
Meaning
Think of this as a way to say 'given the circumstances' or 'considering the facts'. It is the bridge you use to connect a specific reason to a logical decision or outcome.
Key Examples
3 of 6A company announcing a holiday
鉴于国庆节即将来临，公司决定放假三天。
In view of the upcoming National Day, the company has decided to take a three-day break.
Canceling a trip due to weather
鉴于天气恶劣，我们的航班取消了。
In view of the bad weather, our flight was canceled.
A teacher explaining a grading decision
鉴于你表现优异，这次考试你得了满分。
In view of your excellent performance, you received a perfect score on this exam.
Cultural Background
Used heavily in government and corporate documents.
Formal Writing
Always use this in your emails to professors or bosses.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to provide a factual justification for a decision or result.
- Place it at the start of the sentence followed by the reason.
- Best for professional, academic, or serious logistical contexts.
What It Means
鉴于 is your go-to phrase for justifying a decision. It literally means 'in view of' or 'considering'. It points to a specific fact that makes your next action necessary. Imagine you are looking at a messy room. You say, 'Given the mess, I should clean.' That 'given' is exactly what 鉴于 does in Chinese.
How To Use It
Place 鉴于 at the very beginning of your sentence. Follow it with a noun or a short clause. Then, add a comma before stating the result. For example: 鉴于 + [The Situation] + , + [The Result]. It works like a logical 'since' but feels much more grounded and evidence-based. It is like presenting a piece of evidence in court before making your final point.
When To Use It
You will hear this a lot in news reports or office meetings. It is perfect for professional emails when you need to cancel a plan. Use it when you want to sound objective and fair. If you are explaining why a price changed, use 鉴于. If you are deciding to stay home because of a storm, use 鉴于. It makes you sound like someone who thinks before they act.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this during a casual beer with friends. It is too stiff for 'Since I'm hungry, let's eat.' In that case, just use 因为. Also, do not use it for purely emotional reasons. You would not say 'In view of my love for you, marry me.' That sounds like a legal contract! Keep it for situations involving facts, safety, or logistics.
Cultural Background
The character 鉴 (jiàn) originally referred to a bronze mirror. In ancient times, people looked into these mirrors to reflect on themselves. Later, it came to mean 'to examine' or 'to learn a lesson from'. When you use 鉴于, you are essentially saying, 'I have looked into the mirror of these facts and seen the truth.' It carries a weight of historical wisdom and careful observation.
Common Variations
You might see 考虑到 (kǎolǜ dào) which is a bit softer, like 'taking into account'. There is also 由于 (yóuyú) which is a standard 'due to'. However, 鉴于 remains the king of formal justification. If you want to sound even more official, you can use 有鉴于此 (yǒu jiàn yú cǐ) at the start of a sentence to mean 'In view of this...'.
Usage Notes
This phrase is firmly in the formal register. It is most frequently found in written documents, news, and professional speech. Avoid it in intimate or very casual settings unless you are intentionally being mock-formal.
Formal Writing
Always use this in your emails to professors or bosses.
Examples
6鉴于国庆节即将来临，公司决定放假三天。
In view of the upcoming National Day, the company has decided to take a three-day break.
Standard professional usage for announcements.
鉴于天气恶劣，我们的航班取消了。
In view of the bad weather, our flight was canceled.
Used here to show an objective reason for a change in plans.
鉴于你表现优异，这次考试你得了满分。
In view of your excellent performance, you received a perfect score on this exam.
Provides a logical basis for a reward.
鉴于你迟到了半小时，你得请我喝咖啡！
Given that you are half an hour late, you have to buy me a coffee!
Using a formal word in a casual setting for a humorous, 'mock-serious' effect.
鉴于他的健康状况，他必须戒烟。
In view of his health condition, he must quit smoking.
Used for serious, high-stakes advice.
鉴于成本上涨，我们不得不调整价格。
In view of rising costs, we have no choice but to adjust our prices.
Classic business justification to avoid sounding greedy.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence.
____ 预算有限，我们不能买车。
鉴于 is the formal choice for this context.
🎉 Score: /1
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
1 exercises____ 预算有限，我们不能买车。
鉴于 is the formal choice for this context.
🎉 Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
1 questionsNo, it sounds too stiff.
Related Phrases
考虑到
similarConsidering
