chéngguǒ: 成果 - Achievement, Result, Fruit (of labor)
Quick Summary
Keywords: 成果, cheng guo, Chinese for achievement, result in Chinese, accomplishment, fruit of labor, success, project outcome, research findings.
Summary: Learn the meaning of 成果 (chéngguǒ), a key Chinese term for a tangible achievement or positive result that comes from hard work. This page explains how `成果` is used in business, academic, and personal contexts, differentiating it from the more general word for “result” (`结果`). Discover its cultural importance and see practical examples to understand how to talk about the “fruit of your labor” in Chinese.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): chéngguǒ
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: A tangible result, achievement, or accomplishment, especially one produced through significant effort.
In a Nutshell: Think of `成果` as the “fruit of your labor.” It's not just any outcome; it's a positive, substantial result that you can see and point to after putting in work. It's the finished report, the successful product launch, the published research paper, or the beautiful painting. It carries a strong sense of pride and successful completion.
Character Breakdown
成 (chéng): This character means “to complete,” “to become,” or “to succeed.” It depicts a process reaching a successful conclusion.
果 (guǒ): This character literally means “fruit.” It's also used metaphorically to mean “result” or “outcome.” The character is a pictogram of a fruit on a tree.
Together, 成果 (chéngguǒ) literally translates to “success fruit” or “completed fruit.” This beautiful and intuitive combination captures the essence of reaping the rewards of one's hard work, much like a farmer harvesting fruit after a season of care and effort.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, there is a profound respect for diligence, perseverance, and education. The concept of `成果` is central to this value system. It's not enough to simply try hard; the ultimate goal is to produce a tangible, positive outcome that benefits oneself, one's family, or the group. This focus on demonstrable results is visible in the intense academic environment and the project-driven nature of the modern workplace in China.
Comparison to “Achievement”: In Western culture, “achievement” can be very personal and abstract, like “overcoming a fear” or “finding happiness.” While these are valid, `成果` is almost always more concrete and external. It's the evidence of success. For example, you might feel a sense of “achievement” for finishing a marathon, but the `成果` would be the medal, the finishing time, or the improved health metrics you can measure. `成果` is the tangible proof you show others, while the feeling of success is separate.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Academic & Research Contexts: This is a very common domain for `成果`. It refers to research findings, discoveries, published papers, or a completed thesis. You'll often hear the phrase `研究成果 (yánjiū chéngguǒ)` - “research results/findings.”
Business & Professional Settings: In the workplace, `成果` refers to the successful outcome of a project, a positive sales report, a new product, or any measurable success. A manager might ask a team, “这个月我们有什么成果？” (What have we achieved this month?).
Personal Projects: While slightly more formal, it can be used for significant personal accomplishments, like writing a book, mastering a difficult piece of music, or completing a major fitness goal.
Connotation & Formality: `成果` is overwhelmingly positive and implies success. You would never use it to describe a failure or a neutral outcome. It is used in both formal (reports, presentations) and semi-formal (discussions about work or studies) contexts.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
这是我们团队努力的成果。
Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen tuánduì nǔlì de chéngguǒ.
English: This is the result of our team's hard work.
Analysis: A classic and common sentence structure. It directly links effort (`努力`) to the positive outcome (`成果`).
Example 2:
教授正在分享他最新的研究成果。
Pinyin: Jiàoshòu zhèngzài fēnxiǎng tā zuìxīn de yánjiū chéngguǒ.
English: The professor is sharing his latest research findings.
Analysis: This highlights the use of `成果` in an academic context to mean “findings” or “discoveries.”
Example 3:
经过一年的奋斗，他终于看到了成果。
Pinyin: Jīngguò yī nián de fèndòu, tā zhōngyú kàn dàole chéngguǒ.
English: After a year of struggle, he finally saw the results.
Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that `成果` often comes after a long period of effort or `奋斗 (fèndòu)`.
Example 4:
我们不能窃取别人的劳动成果。
Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng qièqǔ biérén de láodòng chéngguǒ.
English: We cannot steal the fruits of other people's labor.
Analysis: This shows the strong sense of ownership associated with `成果`. `劳动成果` is a common collocation.
Example 5:
这次改革取得了显著的成果。
Pinyin: Zhè cì gǎigé qǔdéle xiǎnzhù de chéngguǒ.
English: This reform has achieved remarkable results.
Analysis: The verb `取得 (qǔdé)` - “to obtain” or “to achieve” - is frequently used with `成果`.
Example 6:
如果没有你的帮助，我们不可能有今天的成果。
Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu nǐ de bāngzhù, wǒmen bù kěnéng yǒu jīntiān de chéngguǒ.
English: Without your help, we couldn't have achieved what we have today.
Analysis: This is a polite way to share credit and acknowledge someone's contribution to a successful outcome.
English: They worked for a long time, but with no results (achievements).
Analysis: This demonstrates how to express a lack of positive results. The implication is that their work was, unfortunately, fruitless.
Example 8:
这座漂亮的建筑是许多工程师智慧的成果。
Pinyin: Zhè zuò piàoliang de jiànzhú shì xǔduō gōngchéngshī zhìhuì de chéngguǒ.
English: This beautiful building is the fruit of many engineers' wisdom.
Analysis: `成果` is not just about physical labor; it can also be the result of intellectual work (`智慧`).
Example 9:
公司希望将这些科研成果转化为产品。
Pinyin: Gōngsī xīwàng jiāng zhèxiē kēyán chéngguǒ zhuǎnhuà wéi chǎnpǐn.
English: The company hopes to transform these scientific research achievements into products.
Analysis: This sentence shows the practical, often commercial, application of `成果`. `科研 (kēyán)` is short for “scientific research.”
Example 10:
他正在享受自己年轻时奋斗的成果。
Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài xiǎngshòu zìjǐ niánqīng shí fèndòu de chéngguǒ.
English: He is now enjoying the fruits of the struggles of his youth.
Analysis: This captures the idea of “reaping what you sow,” where past efforts lead to current rewards.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`成果` (chéngguǒ) vs. `结果` (jiéguǒ): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
`结果 (jiéguǒ)` is neutral. It simply means “result” or “outcome” and can be good, bad, or indifferent.
`成果 (chéngguǒ)` is positive. It means “achievement” or “fruit of labor” and implies a successful outcome from effort.
Incorrect: ~~实验的成果是失败了。~~ (The achievement of the experiment was failure.)
Correct: 实验的结果是失败了，所以我们没有成果可以报告。 (The result of the experiment was a failure, so we have no achievements to report.)
`成果` (chéngguǒ) vs. `成功` (chénggōng):
`成功 (chénggōng)` is “success” (noun) or “to succeed” (verb/adjective). It's the state of being successful.
`成果 (chéngguǒ)` is a noun for the thing that proves the success.
Example: 他成功了 (He succeeded). 他的成果是一本畅销书 (His achievement is a best-selling book).
Related Terms and Concepts
结果 (jiéguǒ) - The most important related term. A neutral “result” or “outcome” that can be positive, negative, or indifferent.
成功 (chénggōng) - “Success” (the state) or “to succeed” (the action). `成果` is the tangible evidence of `成功`.
成就 (chéngjiù) - “Accomplishment,” often used for achievements on a grander, more significant, or life-long scale (e.g., winning a major award, a lifetime achievement). It's often more personal and profound than a single project's `成果`.
收获 (shōuhuò) - “Harvest,” “gains.” Very similar to `成果`, but can also refer to intangible gains like knowledge, experience, or new friendships. `成果` is more often a concrete product or finding.
业绩 (yèjì) - “Performance,” “track record,” specifically in a business or sales context (e.g., sales figures). It's a type of `成果` measured by business metrics.
作品 (zuòpǐn) - “Work” (of art, literature, etc.). This is a specific type of creative `成果`.
贡献 (gòngxiàn) - “Contribution.” This refers to what you give to a project, team, or society. Your `贡献` helps the group produce a collective `成果`.