正果

zhèngguǒ

noun #32,143

Meanings

1 the true fruit of cultivation; enlightenment; attainment
2 a proper, worthy outcome; a good result after long effort

Characters

right, proper, orthodox

Examples

HSK 4

他修行多年，终于修成正果。

Tā xiūxíng duōnián, zhōngyú xiūchéng zhèngguǒ.

After many years of practice, he finally attained enlightenment.

HSK 5

他们恋爱七年，终于修成正果，结婚了。

Tāmen liàn'ài qī nián, zhōngyú xiūchéng zhèngguǒ, jiéhūn le.

After seven years of dating, they finally got the proper ending - they got married.

Tips

culture

正果 is a Buddhist term: 'orthodox fruit', the true result of cultivation versus the 'evil fruit' (邪果) of heretical paths. The set phrase 修成正果 ('cultivate-into the true fruit') is now a common idiom, most often used jokingly when a long-running couple finally marries, or any long effort finally pays off.

register

Almost always appears in the collocation 修成正果. Outside of religious contexts, the figurative wedding/marriage usage is by far the most common in modern speech and headlines.

Stroke Order

正 zhèng

果 guǒ