开花结果 (kāi huā jiē guǒ) — to yield positive results; to bear fruit (metaphorically)

Definition

A set phrase meaning efforts or work finally 'bear fruit' and produce results. Always used metaphorically for outcomes of long effort, never for plants literally producing fruit.

verb
to yield positive resultsto bear fruit (metaphorically)

Examples

  • ，开花结果。
    Jīng guò duō nián de nǔ lì, zhè ge xiàng mù zhōng yú kāi huā jiē guǒ le.
    After years of hard work, this project has finally yielded positive results.
  • 开花结果，。
    Tā de kē yán chéng guǒ kāi huā jiē guǒ, huò dé le guó jì jiǎng xiàng.
    His research results bore fruit, winning an international award.
  • ，开花结果。
    Zhǐ yǒu jiān chí bú xiè, cái néng ràng mèng xiǎng kāi huā jiē guǒ.
    Only with persistence can dreams be brought to fruition.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

开花bloom
开kāiopen花huāflower
动宾Verb + object
结果bear fruit
结jiébear果guǒfruit
动宾Verb + object

开花 and 结果 together describe a process that finally bears fruit.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà花
Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Open 花 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

果 originally drew fruits hanging on a tree.

Open 果 →

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