Meaning of 后果
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- consequences; aftermath
How to use 后果
后果 usually refers to negative or serious results, so it often appears with words like 严重 (yánzhòng, serious) or 承担 (chéngdān, to bear). Example: 你想过后果吗？(Nǐ xiǎng guo hòuguǒ ma?) Have you thought about the consequences?
后 (hòu) means after, and 果 (guǒ) means fruit, the thing a tree produces. 后果 is the fruit that comes after an action, the result you have to eat later.
Common mistake: Learners often use 后果 for any result, including good ones, but it sounds negative. For a neutral or positive outcome, use 结果 (jiéguǒ) instead, as in 考试结果 (kǎoshì jiéguǒ, exam results).
后果 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
后 hòu · back · 6 strokes
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果 guǒ · fruit · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 后果.
| 最后 | zuìhòu | final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end |
| 水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit |
| 后天 | hòutiān | the day after tomorrow; life after birth (the period in which one develops through experie |
| 后边 | hòubian | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back |
| 如果 | rúguǒ | if; in case; in the event that |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that; afterwards |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later |
| 结果 | jiéguǒ | to bear fruit |
| 后来 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived |
| 今后 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth |
| 后面 | hòumiàn | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back |
| 果然 | guǒrán | really; sure enough |
Questions about 后果
What does 后果 mean?
后果 (hòuguǒ) means "consequences; aftermath" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 后果?
后果 is made of 2 characters: 后 (6 strokes), 果 (8 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 后果 an HSK word?
Yes. 后果 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 后果 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 后果 is written 後果.
What is the difference between 后果 and 结果?
结果 (jiéguǒ) is a neutral word for result or outcome and can also mean in the end. 后果 focuses on what follows from an action and is almost always bad, like a warning.
How do you say to bear the consequences in Chinese?
The common phrase is 承担后果 (chéngdān hòuguǒ). You will also hear 后果自负 (hòuguǒ zìfù), meaning you are responsible for the consequences yourself, often on warning signs.