Literary Causation: -로 말미암아 (Due To, Because Of)

This grammar connects a cause to a specific result. It tells us that one thing happened because of another thing. It is strictly used with nouns. It acts like a bridge between the reason and the outcome. Most of the time, it describes big events or serious situations. It is not for tiny, everyday accidents. Using it for a spilled coffee might sound a bit dramatic. Imagine a dramatic movie narrator describing your breakfast. That is the vibe of -로 말미암아.

1. 1Using this grammar is actually quite simple. You only need to follow these two steps:
2. 2Choose a noun that represents the cause or reason.
3. 3Add -로 말미암아 directly after that noun.
4. 4Example: 전쟁 (war) + -로 말미암아 = 전쟁으로 말미암아 (due to the war).
5. 5Example: 부주의 (carelessness) + -로 말미암아 = 부주의로 말미암아 (due to carelessness).
6. 6There is no need to worry about final consonants here. Whether the noun ends in a vowel or consonant, just add -로 말미암아. It is one of the easier patterns to memorize. Even native speakers appreciate this simplicity when writing long reports.

Use this when you want to sound very literary or official. It is perfect for writing essays for university applications. Use it during a job interview to explain a major achievement. It works well when discussing social issues or historical events. You will often see it in the Bible or classic literature. It is also common in news headlines about the economy. Basically, use it when the situation feels important or heavy. It is like the "serious face" emoji of Korean grammar.

Do not use this with your friends at a cafe. It will make you sound like you are giving a lecture. Avoid using it for small, personal reasons. If you are late because you overslept, do not use it. That would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Also, do not attach it directly to verbs. It only likes to hang out with nouns. If you want to use a verb, change it into a noun first. Keep it out of casual text messages too.

One big mistake is using it for happy, casual things. "Due to the delicious cake, I am happy" sounds very strange here. Another mistake is forgetting the space after the phrase. It should be Noun-로 말미암아 [Space] Result. Some people try to use it with -아/어서 endings. This grammar is already a complete causal connector on its own. Also, make sure the result is actually a consequence. Do not just use it to mean "and" or "with."

How is this different from -때문에? Well, -때문에 is the friendly neighbor of causation grammar. You can use -때문에 anywhere, with anyone, for any reason. In contrast, -로 말미암아 is the dignified professor. Another similar one is -덕분에, which is only for positive results. -로 말미암아 is neutral but usually leans toward serious or negative events. While -탓에 blames someone, -로 말미암아 just states the cause formally. It is the most "literary" of all the causal markers.