Just because
记得以前读书的时候，同学之间开玩笑经常会说一句“因为所以不但而且”。当时身处那个环境，觉得这种用法理所当然。现在回过头去想，恐怕这是杭州人的独创，未必见得全国通行。
“因为所以不但而且”主要有两种用法：一，它带有几分耍赖、狡辩的味道，说话的人因为不想老实回答而闪烁其词。（问：你为什么没把那本书带来？答：因为所以不但而且。）二，它具有不容质疑的口吻，说话的人觉得根本不需要找理由、或者没有理由来解释。（问：为什么老师总偏向某某？答：因为所以不但而且。）
巧的是，英语里的just because有着完全相同的用法，而且近几年的使用率越来越高。举例如下：
闪烁其词：
A: Why don’t you let me see your room? （为什么不让我参观你的房间啊？）
B: Just because! （不为什么！）
A: Just because? It’s extremely messy, huh? （不为什么？房间里肯定乱得一塌糊涂，对吧？）
B: Darn. Do you really have to say it out loud? （讨厌。你就非得揭我的底吗？）
不需或没有理由：
C: Madonna is almost 50. Why are you still obsessed with her? （Madonna都快五十岁了。你为什么还那么迷她？）
D: Just because! （这根本不需要解释！）
E: Why is it that you are so good at mathematics but so bad at physics? （为什么你数学那么好，物理却那么差？）
F: Just because! （没什么理由。）
Just because比“因为所以不但而且”更灵活的地方在于，它还可以单独出现在陈述句里，不一定要用作对某个问题的回答。比如：One can only work so hard. Sometimes you need to take a few days off just because. （一个人再怎么努力工作也是有限度的。有时候你应该什么都不去想，让自己放个假。）
当然，just because的字面意思（仅仅因为）也是很常用的，突出表现在just because… doesn’t mean…的句式里。举例如下：
Just because you are rich doesn’t mean you can always have what you want. （你有钱并不意味着你一定能得到想要的东西。）
Just because we can’t see certain things doesn’t mean they don’t exist. （有些事物我们虽然看不到，但这并不表示它们不存在。）
这类句子在英语里特别普遍，不过我觉得从语法上来讲是站不住脚的。应该换成Just because… , it doesn’t mean…才说得通。目前这两种句式都被接受，但绝大多数母语者习惯不用逗号和it，直接讲just because… doesn’t mean…。这可能又是约定俗成的惯例，没法从语法的角度深究。类似的例子还有like you said（如你所说），按语法规则应该是like what you said或as you said才说得通，但母语者从来都只说like you said。
Bonus videos: 1) Backstreet Boys - Just Want You To Know (This one sure is different!) 2) Backstreet Boys - Incomplete (This is vintage BSB.)
October 26th, 2005 at 5:33 pm
…又学到东西了..
以前在国内不是常说因为所以科学道理的吗…haha..
October 26th, 2005 at 10:36 pm
I have an unrelated question, and the reason is “just because”!
I was in a meeting, and we were discussing some new proposal regarding certain issue. Sometime in the middle, I heard something like:
“Do I have a motion?”
“Second”
“Aye” etc.
I don’t exactly know what it means, except it has to do with voting and “second” and “aye” perhaps show support. But I am wondering if you could tell us some more about these situations. What should one say if s/he disagrees?
Thanks!
Yan:
You got it right. “Second” and “aye” are both utterances of endorsement. If you disagree, you can say “Nay!” And of course, the good old yes/no will always work.
October 28th, 2005 at 9:02 am
这话我很爱说的哈哈。
因为所以不但而且虽然但是。
October 28th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
ummm, 因为所以不但而且我们也经常会说的~
好象女生说的稍微多一点
November 2nd, 2005 at 8:55 pm
This reminds me that in Friends, Joey once said “Because of the reason” to Monica when he didn’t want to tell her his secret.