Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 结果
In Mandarin Chinese, 结果 (jiéguǒ) is often used to express the result or outcome of a situation, similar to saying “as a result” or “in the end” in English.
This word is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to link cause and effect.
BASIC STRUCTURE
The basic sentence structure to express “as a result” in Chinese is:
PATTERN
[Cause or Action], 结果 [Effect or Outcome].
In this construction, “结果” introduces the result of an action or event that has taken place in the first part of the sentence.
| 他没带伞，结果被雨淋湿了。 | Tā méi dài sǎn, jiéguǒ bèi yǔ lín shī le. | He didn’t bring an umbrella, and as a result, got soaked. |
| 他不小心摔倒了，结果受伤了。 | Tā bù xiǎoxīn shuāidǎo le, jiéguǒ shòushāng le. | He accidentally fell, and as a result, he got injured. |
| 昨天没复习，结果考试没考好。 | Zuótiān méi fùxí, jiéguǒ kǎoshì méi kǎo hǎo. | I didn’t review yesterday, and as a result, the test didn’t go well. |
EMPHASIZING UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES
结果 is often used to highlight unexpected or undesired results, similar to “but in the end” or “only to find that”, or “it turned out that.”
In this context, “结果” expresses that the outcome was different from what was expected or intended.
| 他以为自己能赢，结果输了。 | Tā yǐwéi zìjǐ néng yíng, jiéguǒ shū le. | He thought he could win, but in the end, he lost. |
| 我们计划好了一切，结果出了意外。 | Wǒmen jìhuà hǎo le yīqiè, jiéguǒ chū le yìwài. | We planned everything, but in the end, there was an accident. |
| 她想省钱，结果花了更多钱。 | Tā xiǎng shěng qián, jiéguǒ huā le gèng duō qián. | She wanted to save money, but in the end, she spent more. |
结果 TO MEAN “RESULT”
Apart from connecting cause and effect, “结果” can also be used as a noun meaning “result” or “outcome.”
| 考试的结果出来了。 | Kǎoshì de jiéguǒ chūlái le. | The exam results are out. |
| 事情的结果让人很意外。 | Shìqíng de jiéguǒ ràng rén hěn yìwài. | The outcome of the matter was surprising. |
| 她想知道比赛的结果。 | Tā xiǎng zhīdào bǐsài de jiéguǒ. | She wants to know the outcome of the competition. |
COMPARING WITH OTHER CONJUNCTIONS
While “结果” often expresses a result, it is not the only conjunction that can indicate results.
所以 (suǒyǐ) and 因此 (yīncǐ), which also indicate results but more neutrally.
The conjunction 所以 is equivalent to “so” in English, and 因此 (literally) translates to “because of this” (因->because, 此-> this).
结果 emphasises the act of causation, and sometimes carries a sense that the outcome is unexpected.
Whereas 所以 and 因此 state the sequence of events more matter-of-factly.
➡️ Here, “所以” is more straightforward, focusing on cause and effect without the nuance of an unexpected result.
➡️ Using “结果” here emphasizes that the missed meeting was an unintended consequence of waking up late.
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FAQs
What does 结果 mean in Chinese?
结果 can mean “result” as a noun or “as a result” as a conjunction, used to indicate outcomes or consequences.
How is 结果 used in a sentence?
As a noun: 这个实验的结果很好 (zhège shíyàn de jiéguǒ hěn hǎo), meaning “The result of this experiment is very good.”
As a conjunction: 他没努力，结果失败了 (tā méi nǔlì, jiéguǒ shībài le), meaning “He didn’t work hard, and as a result, he failed.”
Can 结果 be used with positive, negative outcomes?
Yes, 结果 can describe both favorable and unfavorable results, depending on the context.
Is 结果 formal or informal?
结果 is versatile and used in both formal and informal contexts, making it suitable for everyday conversation and written reports.
What’s the difference between 结果 and 因此?
结果 emphasizes the outcome or what happened next, while 因此 (yīncǐ) is more formal and directly means “therefore,” focusing on the cause-effect relationship.
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