Japanese Grammar: Mastering 結果 (けっか) – Meaning and Usage

Japanese Grammar: Mastering 結果 (けっか) – Meaning and Usage
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Result, outcome, or consequence.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate the final outcome of an action, process, or series of events.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Dictionary form/Ta-form) + 結果 / Noun + の + 結果
(Not commonly used directly with i-adjectives as a connective; usually Noun + の or Verb-た + 結果)
(Not commonly used directly with na-adjectives as a connective)
Noun + ではない + 結果 / Verb-ない + かった + 結果

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Very common in business reports, scientific papers, and news broadcasts.

😊 Informal Situations

Used to explain why something happened or the final decision of a personal choice.

✍️ Written Language

Extremely common in essays, news articles, and formal documentation.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used frequently when giving updates or explaining reasons.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Consequences
Used to show that a specific state was reached because of a prior action or situation.
Example: 不摂生の結果、病気になった。
Announcing Formal Findings
Commonly used in reports, news, or scientific contexts to introduce what was discovered.
Example: 調査の結果を発表します。
Decision Making process
Describes a decision reached after a period of deliberation or discussion.
Example: 相談した結果、中止することにした。
📊
Frequency
High
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Example Sentences
Example #1
努力の結果、試験に合格しました。
Furigana: どりょく の けっか、しけん に ごうかく しました。
Romaji: Doryoku no kekka, shiken ni goukaku shimashita.
English: As a result of my efforts, I passed the exam.
Example #2
検査の結果、異常はありませんでした。
Furigana: けんさ の けっか、いじょう は ありませんでした。
Romaji: Kensa no kekka, ijou wa arimasen deshita.
English: As a result of the inspection, no abnormalities were found.
Example #3
会議の結果、新しい計画が承認された。
Furigana: かいぎ の けっか、あたらしい けいかく が しょうにん された。
Romaji: Kaigi no kekka, atarashii keikaku ga shounin sareta.
English: As a result of the meeting, the new plan was approved.
Example #4
その試合の結果、私たちのチームが優勝した。
Furigana: その しあい の けっか、わたしたち の チーム が ゆうしょう した。
Romaji: Sono shiai no kekka, watashitachi no chiimu ga yuushou shita.
English: As a result of that match, our team won the championship.
Example #5
よく考えた結果、会社を辞めることにしました。
Furigana: よく かんがえた けっか、かいしゃ を やめる こと に しました。
Romaji: Yoku kangaeta kekka, kaisha o yameru koto ni shimashita.
English: After thinking it over carefully, I decided to quit the company.
Example #6
予想に反して、悪い結果になった。
Furigana: よそう に はんして、わるい けっか に なった。
Romaji: Yosou ni hanshite, warui kekka ni natta.
English: Contrary to expectations, it turned out to be a bad result.
Example #7
実験の結果、新しい事実がわかった。
Furigana: じっけん の けっか、あたらしい じじつ が わかった。
Romaji: Jikken no kekka, atarashii jijitsu ga wakatta.
English: As a result of the experiment, new facts were discovered.
Example #8
調査の結果、原因が判明した。
Furigana: ちょうさ の けっか、げんいん が はんめい した。
Romaji: Chousa no kekka, gen’in ga hanmei shita.
English: As a result of the investigation, the cause was identified.
Example #9
不注意な運転の結果、事故が起きてしまった。
Furigana: ふちゅうい な うんてん の けっか、じこ が おきてしまった。
Romaji: Fuchuui na unten no kekka, jiko ga okite shimatta.
English: As a result of careless driving, an accident occurred.
Example #10
最終的な結果が出るまで待ってください。
Furigana: さいしゅうてき な けっか が でる まで まってください。
Romaji: Saishuuteki na kekka ga deru made matte kudasai.
English: Please wait until the final result comes out.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Neutral Connotation
‘Kekka’ is neutral and requires an adjective to specify if the outcome was good or bad.
Example: いい結果 / 悪い結果
Logical Conclusion
It emphasizes that the process is over and the focus is now on the outcome.
Example: 相談した結果…

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 努力の結果 (in contexts where one wants to emphasize the positive fruit of labor)
✅ 努力の成果 (seika)
While ‘kekka’ is neutral, ‘seika’ is specifically used for positive results/fruits of labor.
❌ 結果、… (starting a sentence without a particle or connector)
✅ その結果 (sono kekka)
In many cases, when starting a new sentence to show consequence, ‘sono kekka’ (as a result of that) is more natural than just ‘kekka’.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral; can be used in both polite and casual speech.
Social Situations: Often used in accountability contexts—explaining ‘how we got here.’
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese used nationwide.

🔍 Subtle Differences

結果 (Kekka) vs. 成果 (Seika)
Kekka is neutral (result), while Seika is always positive (achievement/fruit of success).
When to use: Use Kekka for any outcome; use Seika for accomplishments.
結果 (Kekka) vs. 結末 (Ketsumatsu)
Kekka is a general result; Ketsumatsu is the ‘end’ or ‘conclusion’ of a story or plot.
When to use: Use Ketsumatsu when talking about books or movies.

📝 Conjugation Notes

Kekka is a noun. When connecting it to another noun, use ‘の’. When connecting it to a verb, use the past tense (Ta-form) to show the action that led to the result is completed.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pay attention to the small ‘tsu’ (っ), which creates a double ‘k’ sound (ke-kka). Ensure the stop is clear.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘Kekka’ as the ‘fruit’ (果) that is ‘tied’ (結) to your actions. Action + process = Fruit (Result).

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