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

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.

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.

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.

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.

结果 is an extremely common and versatile word used in daily life, from casual chats to formal reports.

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…)