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前因後果

简前因后果 · 繁前因後果

Mandarin · pinyin qián yīn hòu guǒ

cause and effects (idiom); entire process of development

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Characters in this entry

前: qián · in front, forward; preceding
因: yīn · cause, reason; by; because (of)
後: hòu · behind, rear, after; descendents
果: guǒ · fruit; result
后: hòu · queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–1–4–3 · qian2 yin1 hou4 guo3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

前因後果 · find source passages ↗ · 前因后果 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

cin4 jan1 hau6 gwo2

Cantonese word readings for 前因後果. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) the entire sequence of events (including its cause and outcome)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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