(hòu guǒ) - consequence, aftermath, the fallout from something in Mandarin
hòuguǒTraditional: 後果
Translation
consequence, aftermath, the fallout from something
Word origin
A compound of 后 (hòu, after, behind) and 果 (guǒ, fruit, outcome), so the fruit that comes afterwards. The same 果 is in 结果 and 效果.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 后 (hòu, after) + 果 (guǒ, fruit, outcome)
Stroke order
后
果
Examples
。
You must bear the consequences of your own actions.
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The consequences of doing this are serious.
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He never gave the consequences a thought.
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The doctor warned of the possible consequences.
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I will take responsibility for the consequences.
后果 (hòu guǒ) is what follows an action, and in practice what follows a bad one. It travels with a fixed set of words: 严重的后果, 承担后果, 后果自负, 不堪设想的后果. If a sentence contains 后果, something has usually gone wrong or is about to.
Its neighbour 结果 is the neutral one. 结果 is simply the result, good, bad or indifferent: 考试结果, 比赛结果. Nobody says 考试后果 unless they are being darkly funny about how it went.
The trap is reaching for 后果 to translate any English consequence, since English uses that word neutrally in phrases like as a consequence of the merger. In Chinese that is 由于 or 因此 with 结果, and 后果 is reserved for the damage. The sign 后果自负 on a building site means you are on your own if this goes badly.
Where this fits
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后果: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "后果" (consequence, aftermath, the fallout from something): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 59.