Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "原因" vs "結果"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
原因
げんいん (gen'in)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
結果
けっか (kekka)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 原因 and 結果 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
原因 (げんいん (gen'in)) represents "cause; origin" (Level: N3) and typically represents Refers to the cause or origin that brings about an effect.
On the other hand, 結果 (けっか (kekka)) translates to "result; outcome" (Level: N3) and is used for Refers to the outcome of an action or event. Contrast with 原因. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "原因"
事故の原因を詳しく調べています。
They are investigating the cause of the accident in detail.
Bilingual Sentence for "結果"
努力した結果、見事に試験に合格しました。
As a result of my efforts, I passed the exam beautifully.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "事故の ＿＿＿ を詳しく調べています。" (Meaning: "They are investigating the cause of the accident in detail.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "原因" fits here because it represents "cause; origin" in the context: "They are investigating the cause of the accident in detail.".