自食其果

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zì shí qí guǒ
• English Translation: To reap what one sows (negative consequences)
• Idiom Composition: 「自」（Self or oneself）＋「食」（To eat; in this context, to endure or taste the consequences）＋「其」（Its or one's own (referring to the results of the subject's actions)）＋「果」（Fruit; here referring to the result or consequence）
• Meaning: To suffer the negative consequences or punishment resulting from one's own bad deeds or foolish choices. It is a derogatory term emphasizing that the misfortune is entirely self-inflicted.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「自食其果」 contains the following nuances:

• Retribution for Wrongdoing: This idiom is not used for simple accidents. It specifically targets situations where a person made a morally questionable or foolish choice and is now facing the inevitable negative outcome.
• Emphasis on Self-Responsibility: It highlights that the blame lies 100% with the individual. It is often used to shut down excuses or attempts to blame others for one's own misfortune.

3. Usage

「自食其果」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Warning or Admonition: Used to warn someone that continuing a bad behavior will lead to their own downfall.
  • Example:「如果你继续欺骗大家，总有一天你会自食其果。」
    （If you continue to deceive everyone, one day you will certainly reap what you sow.）
• Summarizing a Failure: Used to describe a situation where someone's current misery is the direct result of their past stubbornness or mistakes.
  • Example:「他不听劝告一意孤行，现在的困境完全是自食其果。」
    （He ignored all advice and insisted on having his own way; his current predicament is entirely of his own making.）

Additional Examples:

1. 那些破坏环境的人终将自食其果。
   （Those who destroy the environment will eventually suffer the consequences of their own actions.）
2. 企图陷害别人的人，往往最后是自食其果。
   （People who try to frame others often end up falling into their own trap.）
3. 不要以为做了坏事没人知道，迟早会自食其果。
   （Don't think you can get away with doing bad things; sooner or later, you will reap the bitter fruit of your actions.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Philosophical Roots: While not strictly a religious term, it reflects the deep-seated Chinese cultural belief in 善有善报，恶有恶报 (shàn yǒu shàn bào, è yǒu è bào), which means 'good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil.'
• Tone and Nuance: This is a derogatory (贬义, biǎnyì) expression. It often carries a 'serves them right' nuance, so it should never be used when trying to show sympathy to someone in trouble.
• Literary Source: The phrase appears in the preface of the famous modern novel Tales of Hulan River (呼兰河传) by the master writer Mao Dun (茅盾), though the concept of 'eating one's own fruit' has existed in Chinese thought for centuries.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 自作自受 (zì zuò zì shòu): To suffer from one's own actions; a very common and colloquial way to say 'you brought this on yourself.'
  • 玩火自焚 (wán huǒ zì fén): To play with fire and get burned; specifically used for people who engage in dangerous or evil activities that lead to their own destruction.
  • 咎由自取 (jiù yóu zì qǔ): To suffer the consequences of one's own actions.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 嫁祸于人 (jià huò yú rén): To shift the blame or misfortune onto others; to frame someone else for one's own mistakes.
  • 功成名就 (gōng chéng míng jiù): To achieve success and fame.link
  • 如愿以偿 (rú yuàn yǐ cháng): To have one's wish fulfilled.link

6. Summary

自食其果 (zì shí qí guǒ) is a critical idiom used when someone suffers because of their own wrongdoing. It literally means "eating the fruit of one's own actions." Similar to the English expressions "to reap what you sow" or "to have something come back to haunt you," it carries a tone of "getting what one deserves" and is often used as a warning or a harsh judgment of someone's failure.