结果

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jiéguǒ: 结果 - Result, Outcome, Consequence, In the end

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jieguo, jie guo, 结果, result in Chinese, outcome in Chinese, consequence Chinese, in the end Chinese, Chinese word for result, cause and effect, hsk 3
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 结果 (jiéguǒ), which means “result,” “outcome,” or “consequence.” This comprehensive guide covers its use as a noun, a verb, and a conjunction like “in the end.” Discover how to talk about the results of exams, discussions, or actions, and understand its cultural connection to the concept of cause and effect. This page is perfect for beginners looking to grasp one of the most practical and frequently used words in modern Mandarin Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jiéguǒ
  • Part of Speech: Noun, Verb, Conjunction
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: The result, outcome, or consequence of an action, process, or event.
  • In a Nutshell: 结果 (jiéguǒ) is the word for what happens at the end of something. Think of it as the “final score” or the “what happened next.” It can be positive (a good result), negative (a bad consequence), or completely neutral (the test results). It's a fundamental word for discussing cause and effect in almost any situation.

Character Breakdown

  • 结 (jié): To tie, to knot, to bind; to conclude or finish. Imagine tying the final knot to finish a project.
  • 果 (guǒ): Fruit; result. Imagine a tree bearing fruit after a season of growth.
  • The combination beautifully illustrates the meaning: an action or process is 结 (jié), or “tied up/concluded,” which then produces a 果 (guǒ), or “fruit/result.” It's the logical fruit of your labor or actions.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on cause and effect, encapsulated in the Buddhist-influenced term 因果 (yīnguǒ) - “cause and fruit.” 结果 (jiéguǒ) is the everyday manifestation of this principle. While Western cultures might sometimes emphasize “the journey, not the destination,” traditional Chinese contexts, such as education and business, often place a very high value on the final 结果. Getting a good test score, achieving a profitable quarter, or successfully completing a project are all highly valued results.
  • This doesn't mean the process is ignored, but rather that the process is judged by the 结果 it produces. This contrasts slightly with the Western romanticism of “a for effort,” where a good attempt can sometimes be valued as much as a successful outcome. In many Chinese scenarios, a good effort that leads to a bad 结果 is still, ultimately, a failure. Understanding this helps explain the immense pressure in areas like the gaokao (college entrance exam), where the 结果 has life-altering significance.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 结果 is an extremely common and versatile word used in daily life, from casual chats to formal reports.
  • As a Noun (most common):
    • Refers to the outcome of something. It's often paired with adjectives like 好的 (hǎo de - good) or 坏的 (huài de - bad).
    • “What was the result?” - 结果是什么？(Jiéguǒ shì shénme?)
    • “The test results are out.” - 考试结果出来了。(Kǎoshì jiéguǒ chūlái le.)
  • As a Conjunction:
    • Used at the beginning of a clause to mean “as a result,” “in the end,” or “it turned out that…” It connects a cause to its (often unexpected) effect.
    • “He didn't study, as a result, he failed the exam.” - 他没复习，结果考试不及格。(Tā méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎoshì bù jígé.)
  • As a Verb (less common, more dramatic):
    • In colloquial or literary contexts, 结果 can mean “to finish off,” “to kill,” or “to get rid of.” It implies bringing something or someone to a final, conclusive end.
    • “The knight finished off the dragon.” - 骑士结果了那条龙。(Qíshì jiéguǒle nà tiáo lóng.) This usage is more dramatic and less common in everyday conversation but is good to recognize.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1: (As a neutral noun)
    • 你需要对自己的行为结果负责。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào duì zìjǐ de xíngwéi jiéguǒ fùzé.
    • English: You need to be responsible for the consequences of your own actions.
    • Analysis: Here, 结果 is a neutral noun for “consequences” or “results.” This is a very common and formal-sounding sentence structure.
  • Example 2: (As a noun for a test)
    • 医生在等化验结果。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng zài děng huàyàn jiéguǒ.
    • English: The doctor is waiting for the lab results.
    • Analysis: A very practical example. 结果 is used for any kind of official result from a test, be it medical, academic, or scientific.
  • Example 3: (As a conjunction, showing an unexpected outcome)
    • 我等了她一个小时，结果她没来。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ děngle tā yīgè xiǎoshí, jiéguǒ tā méi lái.
    • English: I waited for her for an hour, but in the end, she didn't show up.
    • Analysis: 结果 as a conjunction often carries a slight feeling of surprise or resignation. The outcome wasn't what was initially hoped for.
  • Example 4: (As a positive noun)
    • 经过大家的努力，我们取得了很好的结果。
    • Pinyin: Jīngguò dàjiā de nǔlì, wǒmen qǔdéle hěn hǎo de jiéguǒ.
    • English: Through everyone's hard work, we achieved a very good result.
    • Analysis: This shows 结果 used in a positive context. Note the verb 取得 (qǔdé), “to obtain” or “to achieve,” which is often used with 结果.
  • Example 5: (Asking about a result)
    • 比赛结果怎么样？
    • Pinyin: Bǐsài jiéguǒ zěnmeyàng?
    • English: How did the match turn out? / What was the result of the game?
    • Analysis: A simple, everyday question. 结果怎么样? is a fixed pattern for asking “what was the result?”
  • Example 6: (Regardless of the outcome)
    • 不管结果如何，我都支持你。
    • Pinyin: Bùguǎn jiéguǒ rúhé, wǒ dōu zhīchí nǐ.
    • English: No matter the outcome, I will support you.
    • Analysis: Shows 结果 used in a conditional phrase. “不管…如何” means “no matter how…”
  • Example 7: (As a conjunction, showing a logical conclusion)
    • 他昨天熬夜了，结果今天上班迟到了。
    • Pinyin: Tā zuótiān áoyè le, jiéguǒ jīntiān shàngbān chídào le.
    • English: He stayed up late last night, and as a result, he was late for work today.
    • Analysis: This is a straightforward cause-and-effect statement. Staying up late (cause) led to being late for work (result).
  • Example 8: (As a negative consequence)
    • 他酒后驾车，结果出了严重的车祸。
    • Pinyin: Tā jiǔhòu jiàchē, jiéguǒ chūle yánzhòng de chēhuò.
    • English: He drove after drinking, and the result was a serious car accident.
    • Analysis: When the result is clearly negative, 结果 functions similarly to 后果 (hòuguǒ), but it's still a neutral statement of fact.
  • Example 9: (The result of a discussion)
    • 我们讨论了半天，但是没有任何结果。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen tǎolùnle bàntiān, dànshì méiyǒu rènhé jiéguǒ.
    • English: We discussed for a long time, but there was no result whatsoever.
    • Analysis: “没有结果” (méiyǒu jiéguǒ) is a common phrase meaning “to be fruitless” or “inconclusive.”
  • Example 10: (As a verb, dramatic usage)
    • 在故事的结尾，英雄结果了恶棍的性命。
    • Pinyin: Zài gùshì de jiéwěi, yīngxióng jiéguǒle ègùn de xìngmìng.
    • English: At the end of the story, the hero ended the villain's life.
    • Analysis: This shows the advanced, literary use of 结果 as a verb meaning “to end someone's life.” The phrase 结果了…的性命 (jiéguǒle… de xìngmìng) is a set pattern for this.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 结果 (jiéguǒ) vs. 后果 (hòuguǒ): This is the most important distinction.
    • 结果 (jiéguǒ) is neutral. It can be good, bad, or neither. It's simply the “outcome.” (e.g., test result, game result).
    • 后果 (hòuguǒ) specifically means “consequence” and is almost always negative. It's the bad thing that happens because of a bad action.
    • Incorrect: 他努力学习，得到了好后果。 (He studied hard and got a good consequence.) → This is wrong because a good outcome cannot be a 后果.
    • Correct: 他努力学习，得到了好结果。 (He studied hard and got a good result.)
  • 结果 (jiéguǒ) vs. 所以 (suǒyǐ):
    • Both can connect a cause and effect, similar to “so” or “as a result.”
    • 所以 (suǒyǐ) is a pure conjunction. It's very common and simply links two clauses. (因为…所以… is the classic “because…so…” structure).
    • 结果 (jiéguǒ), when used as a conjunction, often implies a more final, significant, or sometimes unexpected outcome. It can also function as a standalone noun, which 所以 cannot. You can say “这是一个好结果” (This is a good result), but you can't say “这是一个好所以”.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 后果 (hòuguǒ) - A “consequence,” almost always with a negative connotation. The opposite of a good result.
  • 成果 (chéngguǒ) - A positive achievement or result, especially from hard work. Literally “successful fruit.” It's more positive than 结果.
  • 因果 (yīnguǒ) - The philosophical concept of “cause and effect” (karma). The cultural root of why results are seen as the natural fruit of actions.
  • 所以 (suǒyǐ) - A common conjunction meaning “so” or “therefore,” used to show a logical result.
  • 导致 (dǎozhì) - A verb meaning “to lead to” or “to cause,” typically used for negative outcomes, similar to 后果.
  • 结局 (jiéjú) - The ending or final outcome of a story, a movie, a novel, or a complex situation. More about narrative conclusion than a simple result.
  • 最终 (zuìzhōng) - An adverb meaning “finally” or “in the end.” It often appears in sentences with 结果 to emphasize finality. (e.g., 最终的结果是… - The final result is…)