因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
karmic retribution; you reap what you sow
Character by character
因yīn
cause
cause
果guǒ
effect
effect
报bào
repay
repay
应yìng
respond
respond
Example
他年轻时坑过不少人，老了却没人愿意照顾他，村里人都说这是因果报应。
He cheated a lot of people when he was young, and now he is old nobody will look after him; the villagers all say it is karma.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From the Buddhist idea of karma: every deed (因) brings its result (果). In everyday talk it is said of a bad end that seems deserved, often with 讲／相信; saying it of someone’s misfortune to their face is harsh.
Learn this in Lesson 248 · HSK 9+: 城隍与阎王 (City gods and the king of hell)
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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