以…告终
to end in …
Structure
事件 以 结果 告终
What it means
To end in …: names the final outcome of an event such as a war, a match or a negotiation.
How it is built
Event + 以 + outcome + 告终: 战争以清朝的失败告终 (The war ended in defeat for the Qing).
When to use it
Formal and written, common in history and news; plain speech says 最后… or 结果是…. The same 以 frame appears in 以…为由 (on the grounds of), 以…为借口 (as a pretext), 以…著称 (famous for).
Watch out
The outcome goes between 以 and 告终: ✗ 战争告终以失败 ✓ 战争以失败告终. The outcome is a noun or short phrase: 失败, 胜利, 双方让步.
Examples
战争以清朝的失败告终。
The war ended in defeat for the Qing.
这场谈判最终以双方让步告终。
The talks finally ended with both sides giving ground.
Learn this in Lesson 81 · HSK 6–7: 从鸦片战争到1949 (From the Opium War to 1949)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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