-(으)ㄴ/는 탓에

Because, Due to, Owing to, As a result of (negative)

Explanation

The word 탓 roughly means the cause or reason why something bad is occurring. Thus, -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 indicates that the preceding clause is the cause or reason why the negative event described in the following clause occurred. In other words, the following clause happened due to or because of the preceding clause.

Details

1. This expression can also be used in the forms N 탓에 and A/V-(으)ㄴ/는 탓이다.

날씨가 더운 탓에 밤에 잠을 못 자는 사람들이 많아요.
A lot of people have trouble sleeping at night due to the hot weather.
=더운 날씨 탓에 밤에 잠을 못 자는사람들이 많아요.
그 배우가 폐암에 걸린 것은 담배를 많이 피운탓입니다.
That actor got lung cancer from smoking a lot.
=그 배우는 담배를 많이 피운 탓에 폐암에 걸렸습니다.

2. Because -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 can only be used in the case of a bad or negative result, it sounds unnatural if used when the resulting situation is positive.

친구들이 도와준 탓에 한국 생활을 잘할 수 있었어요. ✕
→친구들이 도와준 덕분에 한국 생활을 잘할 수 있었어요. ✓
→친구들이 도와줬기 때문에 한국 생활을 잘할 수 있었어요. ✓
Because my friends helped me, I was able to adjust well to life in Korea.

Many expressions are used to express reasons. Here, we note some of the differences between them.

Examples
<span class="speaker-a">가:</span> 양강 씨가 오늘도 서류 하나를 빠뜨리고 왔다면서요?<br><br><span class="speaker-b">나:</span> 네, 성격이 <span class='focus'>급한 탓에</span> 실수가 잦은 것 같아요.
A: I understand Yang Gang forgot to bring one of the documents again today. B: Yes, it seems he frequently makes mistakes due to his hurried disposition.
<span class="speaker-a">가:</span> 비가 정말 많이 오네요.<br><br><span class="speaker-b">나:</span> 비가 많이 오<span class='focus'>는 탓에</span> 한강 다리 몇 개가 통제되었대요.
A: It's really raining hard. B: Apparently, a number of bridges over the Han River are closed due to the heavy rain.
동호 씨는 컴퓨터게임을 늦게까지 하<span class='focus'>는 탓에</span> 지각을 하는 경우가 많다.
Dongho is often late due to his playing games until late at night.

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