正果

zhèngguǒ

noun #32,143

Meanings

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

Characters

right, proper, orthodox

Examples

他修行多年，终于修成正果。

Tā xiūxíng duō nián, zhōngyú xiū chéng zhèngguǒ.

After many years of practice, he finally attained enlightenment.

他们恋爱七年，终于修成正果，结婚了。

Tāmen liànài qī nián, zhōngyú xiū chéng 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 (xiūchéng zhèngguǒ, '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