〜た結果 / その結果: 'As a Result Of' in Japanese
What it means
結果 literally means "result" or "outcome." As a grammar pattern, it links a process (thinking it over, working hard, an experiment) to the outcome that came out of it. The feel is "after doing X — and as a consequence of doing it — Y happened."
The key nuance: 結果 points back to a deliberate, often drawn-out process, then announces what it produced. It is neutral-to-formal and very common in writing, news, and academic or business contexts.
よく話し合った結果、結論が出ました。
よく はなしあった けっか、けつろんが でました。
As a result of discussing it thoroughly, we reached a conclusion.
verb-た + 結果 = the outcome of a deliberate process.
ヤッタンは毎日努力した結果、試験に合格しました。
ヤッタンは まいにち どりょくした けっか、しけんに ごうかくしました。
As a result of working hard every day, Yattan passed the exam.
長い時間考えた結果、留学することに決めました。
ながい じかん かんがえた けっか、りゅうがくする ことに きめました。
After thinking about it for a long time, I decided to study abroad.
How to form it
There are three patterns. The verb pattern uses the plain past (た-form) before 結果; the noun pattern uses の; その結果 stands alone at the start of a sentence.
| Pattern | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + 結果 | verb-た + 結果（、） | 話し合った結果 (as a result of discussing) |
| Noun + 結果 | noun + の + 結果（、） | 努力の結果 (the result of effort) |
| Sentence-initial | その結果（、） | …。その結果、上達した。(…and as a result, I improved.) |
A comma (、) after 結果 is normal but optional. After the noun pattern, the predicate that follows often states what the result was: 努力の結果、成功した ("as a result of the effort, [I] succeeded").
More examples
The noun + の + 結果 version is handy with nouns like 努力 (effort), 調査 (investigation), or 試験 (exam):
努力の結果、モチはピアノが上手になりました。
どりょくの けっか、モチは ピアノが じょうずに なりました。
As a result of her effort, Mochi got good at the piano.
試験の結果は来週発表されます。
しけんの けっかは らいしゅう はっぴょう されます。
The exam results will be announced next week.
Here 結果 is a plain noun ('results'), not the grammar pattern.
Use その結果 to split the process and the outcome into two sentences — useful when the process needs a full sentence of its own:
弟は毎日漢字を練習した。その結果、すらすら書けるようになった。
おとうとは まいにち かんじを れんしゅうした。その けっか、すらすら かける ように なった。
My little brother practiced kanji every day. As a result, he became able to write it smoothly.
先生は説明を工夫した。その結果、学生の成績が上がった。
せんせいは せつめいを くふうした。その けっか、がくせいの せいせきが あがった。
The teacher refined her explanations. As a result, the students' grades went up.
結果 vs から / ので
から and ので connect any cause to its effect — including everyday, instantaneous reasons (寒いから窓を閉めた, "it was cold, so I closed the window"). 結果 is narrower: it presents the outcome of a process you went through.
- 結果 — emphasizes the end result of a deliberate process or effort: 何度も実験した結果、新しい方法を見つけた ("after experimenting many times, [we] found a new method").
- から/ので — link a plain reason to a result, with no sense of a drawn-out process: 時間がないから急ごう ("we have no time, so let's hurry").
If you can naturally say "as a result of (doing) …," 結果 fits. If you just mean "because," reach for から or ので.
Common mistakes
- Using the dictionary form before 結果. The verb must be in the plain past (た-form): 話し合った結果 (✓), not 話し合う結果 (✗). The process is already complete, so it's past.
- Dropping の in the noun pattern. It's noun + の + 結果: 努力の結果 (✓), not 努力結果 (✗, that reads like a compound noun).
- Using 結果 for an instant, everyday cause. For a simple "because," use から/ので: 寒いから上着を着た (✓), not 寒い結果上着を着た (✗).
- Treating その結果 like a conjunction inside one sentence. その結果 starts a new sentence (or clause after a period); don't glue it mid-clause where から would go.
Quick recap
- 結果 introduces the outcome of a process or effort.
- Verb-た + 結果, noun + の + 結果, or sentence-initial その結果.
- The verb before 結果 is always た-form (the process is finished).
- Neutral-to-formal; very common in writing and news.
- For a plain "because," use から / ので, not 結果.
Your turn
Choose the correct form: 〜た結果, 〜の結果, or その結果.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Does the verb before 結果 have to be past tense?
Yes. Use the plain past (た-form): 調べた結果 ('as a result of investigating'). The process is already complete, so the dictionary form (調べる結果) is incorrect.
What's the difference between 〜た結果 and から/ので?
から/ので link any cause to its effect, including instant everyday reasons. 結果 specifically frames the outcome of a deliberate process or effort, so it carries a 'after going through X, Y resulted' feeling.
When do I use その結果 instead of 〜た結果?
Use その結果 when the process needs its own full sentence. Finish that sentence, then begin the next with その結果 to state the outcome: …した。その結果、…。
Is 結果 formal?
It's neutral-to-formal and extremely common in writing, news, business, and academic Japanese. It's fine in speech too, especially when describing a thought-out decision or an investigation.