JLPT N2
故
happenstance; reason; the late
Readings
On'yomiコ
Kun'yomiゆえ
Mnemonic
An accident (事故) is often the REASON (故) something OLD (古) gets STRUCK (攵) and breaks.
Example Words
事故 (じこ) accident
故障 (こしょう) breakdown, out of order
故郷 (こきょう) hometown
故 (ゆえ) reason, cause