后果

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后果 [2025/08/05 19:09] – created xiaoer后果 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== hòuguǒ: 后果 - Consequence, Aftermath, Result ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** houguo, hòuguǒ, 后果, consequence in Chinese, result in Chinese, aftermath in Chinese, negative outcome in Chinese, a Chinese word for consequence, what does houguo mean, hòuguǒ vs jiéguǒ. +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the crucial Chinese word **后果 (hòuguǒ)**, which translates to "consequence" or "aftermath." This page explores its strong negative connotation, distinguishing it from the neutral "result" (结果, jiéguǒ). Understand how **后果 (hòuguǒ)** is used in warnings, formal contexts, and daily life, and discover its deep cultural connection to the concept of cause and effect. This guide is essential for any learner wanting to grasp the nuances of accountability and outcomes in Chinese. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** hòuguǒ +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** The negative result, consequence, or aftermath of a preceding action or event. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **后果 (hòuguǒ)** is not just any result; it's the result you have to face, and it's almost always unpleasant. Think of the English phrase, "You'll have to face the consequences." That's the feeling of **后果**. It carries a heavy weight of cause-and-effect and is often used as a warning about the serious, negative outcome of a poor decision. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **后 (hòu):** This character means "back," "behind," or "after." It points to something that follows in time or sequence. +
-  * **果 (guǒ):** This character means "fruit," but also "result" or "outcome." The image of a tree bearing fruit is a powerful metaphor for an action producing a result. +
-  * Together, **后果 (hòuguǒ)** literally means "the fruit that comes after." This beautifully illustrates the idea that an action (the tree) will inevitably produce a result (the fruit). The term specifically focuses on the "fruit" that is rotten or unwanted—the negative consequence. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The concept of **后果 (hòuguǒ)** is deeply intertwined with the Chinese notion of **因果 (yīnguǒ)**, or "cause and effect." While this has roots in Buddhist philosophy, it's a thoroughly secular and fundamental concept in modern Chinese society. It's the belief that every action has a direct and unavoidable reaction. +
-In Western culture, "consequence" can sometimes be a neutral term used in logical planning (e.g., "Let's evaluate the potential consequences of this business merger"). In Chinese, however, saying **“你要考虑后果 (nǐ yào kǎolǜ hòuguǒ)”**—"You need to consider the consequences"—is almost exclusively a warning. It carries a sense of gravity and finality. It's a tool used by parents, teachers, and authorities to emphasize accountability and the seriousness of one's actions. This reflects a cultural value where personal choices are seen as having significant, often communal, repercussions that one must be prepared to bear. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**后果 (hòuguǒ)** is a common and powerful word used in various situations, almost always with a negative or serious tone. +
-  * **In Warnings:** This is its most frequent use. Parents warning children, bosses warning employees, or friends advising each other against a risky action. The implication is clear: "If you do this, something bad will happen." +
-  * **In Formal/Official Language:** News reports, legal documents, and official statements often use **后果** to describe the serious aftermath of events like natural disasters, economic crises, or policy changes. For example, "这个决定的**后果**是无法估量的。" (The consequences of this decision are inestimable.) +
-  * **In Personal Reflection:** People use it to talk about their own past mistakes and the negative results they now have to deal with. It implies taking responsibility. For example, "我现在必须承担自己行为的**后果**。" (I must now bear the consequences of my own actions.) +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 你再不认真学习，就要承担**后果**了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ zài bù rènzhēn xuéxí, jiù yào chéngdān **hòuguǒ** le. +
-    * English: If you don't start studying seriously, you will have to bear the consequences. +
-    * Analysis: A classic warning from a parent or teacher. **后果** here clearly refers to negative outcomes like failing an exam or falling behind. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 酒后驾车的**后果**可能非常严重。 +
-    * Pinyin: Jiǔhòu jiàchē de **hòuguǒ** kěnéng fēicháng yánzhòng. +
-    * English: The consequences of drunk driving can be extremely severe. +
-    * Analysis: This is a factual statement of warning, often seen in public service announcements. The word **严重 (yánzhòng - severe)** is frequently paired with **后果**. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 他当时做决定时，完全没有考虑到**后果**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā dāngshí zuò juédìng shí, wánquán méiyǒu kǎolǜ dào **hòuguǒ**. +
-    * English: When he made the decision, he didn't consider the consequences at all. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence is used to criticize someone's lack of foresight, implying that bad things happened as a result. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 任何人都必须为自己的行为**后果**负责。 +
-    * Pinyin: Rènhé rén dōu bìxū wèi zìjǐ de xíngwéi **hòuguǒ** fùzé. +
-    * English: Everyone must be responsible for the consequences of their own actions. +
-    * Analysis: This highlights the theme of accountability. The verb **负责 (fùzé - to be responsible for)** is commonly used with **后果**. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 这次失误带来的**后果**不堪设想。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè cì shīwù dàilái de **hòuguǒ** bùkānshèxiǎng. +
-    * English: The consequences brought about by this mistake are unimaginable/unthinkably bad. +
-    * Analysis: The idiom **不堪设想 (bùkānshèxiǎng)** is a powerful amplifier for **后果**, stressing the extreme severity of the situation. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 污染环境的**后果**会影响到我们的子孙后代。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wūrǎn huánjìng de **hòuguǒ** huì yǐngxiǎng dào wǒmen de zǐsūn hòudài. +
-    * English: The consequences of polluting the environment will affect our future generations. +
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates how **后果** can be used for large-scale, societal issues with long-term negative effects. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * A: 如果我们现在放弃，会有什么**后果**？ B: 我们会失去所有投资。 +
-    * Pinyin: A: Rúguǒ wǒmen xiànzài fàngqì, huì yǒu shéme **hòuguǒ**? B: Wǒmen huì shīqù suǒyǒu tóuzī. +
-    * English: A: If we give up now, what will the consequences be? B: We will lose our entire investment. +
-    * Analysis: Here, the question uses **后果** because the speaker anticipates a negative outcome from the action of "giving up." +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 他因为一时的冲动而犯了错，现在正独自承受着**后果**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi yīshí de chōngdòng ér fàn le cuò, xiànzài zhèng dúzì chéngshòu zhe **hòuguǒ**. +
-    * English: He made a mistake because of a momentary impulse, and now he is suffering the consequences alone. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence conveys a sense of regret and personal burden. The verb **承受 (chéngshòu - to endure/suffer)** emphasizes the painful nature of the **后果**. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 违反合同的法律**后果**是很明确的。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wéifǎn hétóng de fǎlǜ **hòuguǒ** shì hěn míngquè de. +
-    * English: The legal consequences of breaching the contract are very clear. +
-    * Analysis: This shows **后果** in a formal, legal context. The outcome is negative (penalties, lawsuits) and predetermined. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 公司必须评估这个新政策可能带来的负面**后果**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Gōngsī bìxū pínggū zhège xīn zhèngcè kěnéng dàilái de fùmiàn **hòuguǒ**. +
-    * English: The company must evaluate the potential negative consequences of this new policy. +
-    * Analysis: Sometimes, for clarity, speakers might add **负面 (fùmiàn - negative)** before **后果**, but it's often redundant as the negative meaning is already implied. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing **后果 (hòuguǒ)** with **结果 (jiéguǒ)**. While both can be translated as "result," their connotations are worlds apart. +
-  *   **后果 (hòuguǒ): Consequence (Negative).** Use this when the outcome is bad, undesirable, or serves as a warning. It is the result of a mistake, a bad decision, or a risky action. +
-  *   **结果 (jiéguǒ): Result (Neutral).** This is the general word for "result" or "outcome." It can be good, bad, or neutral. It simply states the end product of a process or event. +
-**Incorrect Usage Example:** +
-  *   **Incorrect:** 我努力工作，**后果**是升职了。(Wǒ nǔlì gōngzuò, **hòuguǒ** shì shēngzhí le.) +
-  *   **Why it's wrong:** Getting a promotion (升职) is a positive event. Using **后果** makes it sound like the promotion was a terrible punishment for working hard. +
-  *   **Correct:** 我努力工作，**结果**是升职了。(Wǒ nǔlì gōngzuò, **jiéguǒ** shì shēngzhí le.) +
-  *   **Explanation:** The promotion is the neutral (in this case, positive) outcome of hard work, so **结果** is the correct word. +
-**Rule of Thumb:** If you can replace "result" with "negative consequence" or "aftermath" in English, use **后果 (hòuguǒ)**. If you just mean "outcome" or "end result," use **结果 (jiéguǒ)**. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  *   [[结果]] (jiéguǒ) - The neutral term for "result" or "outcome." The most important word to contrast with **后果**. +
-  *   [[因果]] (yīnguǒ) - The philosophical concept of "cause and effect" (karma). **因 (yīn)** is the cause, and **果 (guǒ)** is the effect/fruit. **后果** is a type of **果**. +
-  *   [[影响]] (yǐngxiǎng) - "Influence" or "effect." A broader term that describes how one thing impacts another, which can be positive, negative, or neutral. **后果** is a specific type of negative **影响**. +
-  *   [[下场]] (xiàchǎng) - "End" or "fate," almost always a miserable one. It's more dramatic and personal than **后果**, often used to describe a person's ruin or tragic end (e.g., "the sad end of a traitor"). +
-  *   [[代价]] (dàijià) - "Price" or "cost" (not just monetary). The sacrifice or loss one must pay to achieve something or as a result of a mistake. It's similar to **后果** but focuses on the "cost" aspect. +
-  *   [[承担]] (chéngdān) - A verb meaning "to bear," "to undertake," or "to assume (responsibility)." It's the action you take when facing **后果**, as in **承担后果** (to bear the consequences). +
-  *   [[负责]] (fùzé) - A verb meaning "to be responsible for." It's the state of being accountable for the **后果** of your actions.+