결과적으로 — As a Result / In the End
The Korean way to signal outcomes, draw conclusions, and wrap up arguments naturally.
Iru Helper Note
결과적으로 marks the conclusion or result of a chain of events — "as a result," "ultimately," or "in the end."
결과적으로, 더 열심히 공부하면 실력이 늘어요.
(As a result, if you study harder, your skills will improve.)
🎯 What You'll Learn Today
Drawing conclusions is one of the most important skills in Korean conversation — it tells your listener where your reasoning has landed. In this lesson, you'll master 결과적으로 and related conclusion and result connectors. These phrases let you summarize outcomes, signal the end of an argument, and present logical conclusions with confidence. They're essential for discussions, presentations, and any conversation where you want to sound structured and persuasive.
📌 Conclusion & Result Connectors
Expression | Meaning | Notes |
결과적으로 | As a result / ultimately | Core conclusion connector |
그 결과 | As a result of that | More narrative: "the result of [specific action] was..." |
따라서 | Therefore / consequently | Formal logical conclusion; common in writing |
그러므로 | Therefore / hence | Very formal; academic or written |
그래서 | So / therefore | Casual spoken result connector |
결국 | In the end / ultimately | Emphasizes final outcome after a process |
결국에는 | In the end (emphatic) | More emphatic form of 결국 |
이런 이유로 | For this reason | Explains the cause before the result |
이를 통해 | Through this / as a result of this | Formal; used in writing or formal speech |
최종적으로 | Finally / in conclusion | "The final outcome is..." — wrapping up formally |
이렇게 해서 | This is how it came about | Narrative: describes how something came to be |
~덕분에 | Thanks to ~ | Positive result due to a cause |
~때문에 | Because of ~ | Neutral/negative cause preceding the result |
종합하면 | To sum up / in summary | Brings multiple points to a conclusion |
💡 Key pattern: [Cause/Context] → 결과적으로 / 따라서 / 결국 + [Result/Conclusion] — the connector introduces the outcome or logical conclusion that follows from what was said.
💬 Conversations in Action
Dialogue 1 — Discussing a Decision
A: 왜 한국어를 공부하기로 했어요? (Why did you decide to study Korean?)
B: 한국 드라마를 좋아하게 됐어요. 결과적으로, 한국어를 배우고 싶어졌어요. (I started to like Korean dramas. As a result, I wanted to learn Korean.)
A: 지금은 어때요? (How is it now?)
B: 덕분에 이제 자막 없이도 조금 알아들어요. (Thanks to that, I can now understand a little without subtitles.)
Dialogue 2 — Explaining an Outcome
A: 프로젝트 어떻게 됐어요? (How did the project go?)
B: 처음에는 힘들었는데, 결국 잘 마무리했어요. (It was tough at first, but in the end, we wrapped it up well.)
A: 왜 잘 됐다고 생각해요? (Why do you think it went well?)
B: 팀원들이 열심히 해줬어요. 따라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요. (The team members worked hard. Therefore, a good result came out.)
🌏 Cultural Note — Conclusions in Korean Communication
In Korean professional and academic contexts, signaling your conclusion clearly is a sign of organized thinking. Starting a conclusion with 결과적으로 or 따라서 tells the listener "I've thought this through and here's where I landed." In casual settings, 결국 and 그래서 are more natural and don't sound too stiff. Saving formal connectors like 따라서 and 그러므로 for presentations or written work ensures you sound appropriately calibrated to the situation.
<summary>Try This Speaking Exercise
Practice drawing conclusions and presenting results naturally.
A. Say: "As a result, studying every day is important."
<summary>Answer
결과적으로, 매일 공부하는 것이 중요해요. (As a result, studying every day is important.)
</summary>
B. Use 결국 to describe the final outcome of something difficult.
<summary>Answer
어려웠지만 결국 해냈어요. (It was difficult but in the end I did it.)
</summary>
C. Use 따라서 to draw a logical conclusion in a formal tone.
<summary>Answer
준비를 열심히 했어요. 따라서 시험이 잘 됐어요. (I prepared hard. Therefore, the exam went well.)
</summary>
D. Use 덕분에 to attribute a positive result to a cause.
<summary>Answer
선생님 덕분에 많이 늘었어요. (Thanks to my teacher, I've improved a lot.)
</summary>
E. Use 이런 이유로 to explain why something happened.
<summary>Answer
이런 이유로 저는 이쪽을 선택했어요. (For this reason, I chose this option.)
</summary>
F. Use 그 결과 to describe what came out of a specific action.
<summary>Answer
매일 30분씩 연습했어요. 그 결과 발음이 좋아졌어요. (I practiced 30 minutes every day. As a result, my pronunciation improved.)
</summary>
G. Use 종합하면 to wrap up multiple points.
<summary>Answer
종합하면, 이 방법이 가장 효율적이에요. (To sum up, this method is the most efficient.)
</summary>
H. Use 이렇게 해서 to describe how something came about.
<summary>Answer
이렇게 해서 저희 팀이 결성됐어요. (This is how our team came together.)
</summary>
I. Use 최종적으로 to give a formal final conclusion.
<summary>Answer
최종적으로, 이 안을 선택하기로 했어요. (Finally, we decided to choose this proposal.)
</summary>
J. Use 때문에 + result to explain a negative cause and outcome.
<summary>Answer
비가 왔기 때문에 행사가 취소됐어요. (Because it rained, the event was canceled.)
</summary>
Expression Reference
Expression | Nuance/Key |
결과적으로 | Core conclusion opener |
그 결과 | Narrative specific result |
따라서 | Formal logical therefore |
그러므로 | Very formal/academic |
결국 | In the end (process done) |
덕분에 | Thanks to (positive cause) |
때문에 | Because of (neutral/negative) |
이런 이유로 | For this reason |
종합하면 | To sum up |
최종적으로 | Final/formal conclusion |
Tip: 결국 vs. 결과적으로
결국 emphasizes a conclusion that came after a process — often with a sense of "after all that, this is where things ended." 결과적으로 is more neutral and simply signals "here is the result." Use 결국 when you want to convey that something took time or effort before the outcome emerged.
</summary>
Want more reps?
Think of anything you did recently — a decision, a project, a study session. Describe the process and then land on the conclusion with 결국 or 결과적으로. The more you close out your sentences with these, the more structured your Korean will sound!
📦 Practice Hub — Conclusion & Result Connectors
Exercise 1 — Choose the Right Expression
A. You want to signal the logical conclusion of an argument formally.
(1) 결국 (2) 따라서 (3) 덕분에 (4) 이렇게 해서
<summary>Answer
(2) 따라서 — formal "therefore / consequently"; signals logical conclusion in professional or written contexts.
B. You want to describe how a positive result came from a cause.
(1) 때문에 (2) 따라서 (3) 덕분에 (4) 종합하면
<summary>Answer
(3) 덕분에 — "thanks to ~" attributes a positive result to a cause.
C. You want to say "in the end" after a long process, with a sense of "after everything."
(1) 결과적으로 (2) 결국 (3) 따라서 (4) 이런 이유로
<summary>Answer
(2) 결국 — "in the end / ultimately" after a process; implies things played out over time.
D. You want to give the specific result of a particular action taken.
(1) 그 결과 (2) 결국에는 (3) 따라서 (4) 이를 통해
<summary>Answer
(1) 그 결과 — "as a result of that" is narrative; refers back to a specific action just mentioned.
E. You want to sum up multiple points before concluding.
(1) 결과적으로 (2) 그러므로 (3) 종합하면 (4) 이렇게 해서
<summary>Answer
(3) 종합하면 — "to sum up / in summary" brings multiple earlier points together before the conclusion.
F. You want to give a negative cause: "because of the rain, the event was canceled."
(1) 덕분에 (2) 때문에 (3) 따라서 (4) 이런 이유로
<summary>Answer
(2) 때문에 — neutral/negative cause connector; "because of ~."
G. You want to explain how something came about narratively.
(1) 이렇게 해서 (2) 따라서 (3) 결국에는 (4) 최종적으로
<summary>Answer
(1) 이렇게 해서 — "this is how it came about"; narrative explanation of how a situation developed.
H. You want to give the most formal, academic "therefore."
(1) 그래서 (2) 따라서 (3) 그러므로 (4) 결국
<summary>Answer
(3) 그러므로 — very formal/academic; the most formal logical conclusion connector.
I. You want to conclude a presentation with "finally / in conclusion."
(1) 최종적으로 (2) 결국 (3) 그 결과 (4) 이런 이유로
<summary>Answer
(1) 최종적으로 — "finally / in conclusion"; used to formally wrap up a presentation or argument.
J. You want to use the most natural casual spoken result connector.
(1) 따라서 (2) 그러므로 (3) 그래서 (4) 최종적으로
<summary>Answer
(3) 그래서 — "so / therefore"; the most casual and natural spoken result connector.
Quick Reference
Expression | Register |
결과적으로 | Neutral conclusion |
그 결과 | Narrative specific result |
따라서 | Formal logical therefore |
그러므로 | Academic/very formal |
결국 / 결국에는 | In the end (process) |
그래서 | Casual spoken result |
덕분에 | Thanks to (positive) |
때문에 | Because of (neutral/neg) |
종합하면 | Sum up multiple points |
최종적으로 | Final formal wrap-up |
Pitfall
Don't use 그러므로 in casual conversation — it sounds like an academic essay. In speech, 따라서 is the most formal you'd normally go. For everyday talk, 그래서 or 결국 are far more natural. Also: 덕분에 is only for positive outcomes — using it for something bad sounds sarcastic or odd. Use 때문에 for neutral or negative causes.
Exercise 2 — Korean → English Translation
A. 결과적으로, 매일 연습하는 것이 가장 효율적이에요.
<summary>Answer
As a result, practicing every day is the most efficient approach.
B. 어려웠지만 결국 잘 마무리했어요.
<summary>Answer
It was difficult, but in the end, we wrapped it up well.
C. 열심히 준비했어요. 따라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요.
<summary>Answer
I prepared hard. Therefore, a good result came out.
D. 선생님 덕분에 발음이 많이 좋아졌어요.
<summary>Answer
Thanks to my teacher, my pronunciation has improved a lot.
E. 비가 많이 왔기 때문에 행사가 취소됐어요.
<summary>Answer
Because it rained a lot, the event was canceled.
F. 이런 이유로 저는 이쪽을 선택했어요.
<summary>Answer
For this reason, I chose this option.
G. 매일 30분씩 연습했어요. 그 결과 실력이 늘었어요.
<summary>Answer
I practiced 30 minutes every day. As a result, my skills improved.
H. 종합하면, 이 계획이 가장 현실적이에요.
<summary>Answer
To sum up, this plan is the most realistic.
I. 이렇게 해서 저희 팀이 만들어졌어요.
<summary>Answer
This is how our team was formed.
J. 최종적으로, 이 안을 채택하기로 했어요.
<summary>Answer
Finally / In conclusion, we decided to adopt this proposal.
Vocabulary Cheat Sheet
Word | Meaning |
마무리하다 | To wrap up / finalize |
채택하다 | To adopt / choose |
현실적이다 | To be realistic |
결과가 나오다 | A result comes out |
발음 | Pronunciation |
취소되다 | To be canceled |
행사 | Event |
실력이 늘다 | Skills improve |
연습하다 | To practice |
선택하다 | To choose / select |
Grammar Tip
결과적으로 and 결국 are often interchangeable, but with a nuance: 결과적으로 = "the outcome is / as a result" (neutral summary); 결국 = "in the end, after everything" (implies a process that led here). 결국에는 is an emphatic form — use it when you want to stress that the outcome finally arrived despite delays or complications.
Exercise 3 — Complete the Sentence
A. ___적으로, 매일 연습하는 것이 중요해요. (as a result)
<summary>Answer
결과 — 결과적으로, 매일 연습하는 것이 중요해요.
B. 어려웠지만 ___국 해냈어요. (in the end)
<summary>Answer
결 — 결국 해냈어요.
C. 준비를 잘 했어요. ___라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요. (therefore)
<summary>Answer
따 — 따라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요.
D. 선생님 ___분에 많이 늘었어요. (thanks to)
<summary>Answer
덕 — 선생님 덕분에 많이 늘었어요.
E. 비가 왔기 ___문에 취소됐어요. (because of)
<summary>Answer
때 — 비가 왔기 때문에 취소됐어요.
F. 이런 이___로 저는 이쪽을 선택했어요. (reason)
<summary>Answer
유 — 이런 이유로 저는 이쪽을 선택했어요.
G. 매일 했어요. 그 ___과 실력이 늘었어요. (result)
<summary>Answer
결 — 그 결과 실력이 늘었어요.
H. ___합하면, 이 방법이 가장 좋아요. (to sum up)
<summary>Answer
종 — 종합하면, 이 방법이 가장 좋아요.
I. 이렇게 ___서 팀이 만들어졌어요. (this is how)
<summary>Answer
해 — 이렇게 해서 팀이 만들어졌어요.
J. ___적으로, 이 안을 선택하겠습니다. (finally/in conclusion formal)
<summary>Answer
최종 — 최종적으로, 이 안을 선택하겠습니다.
Sentence Starters
Starter | Use |
결과적으로 | Neutral conclusion |
결국 / 결국에는 | After a process |
따라서 | Formal logical result |
그러므로 | Academic/formal |
그래서 | Casual result |
덕분에 | Positive cause |
때문에 | Neutral/negative cause |
이런 이유로 | For this reason |
그 결과 | Specific narrative result |
종합하면 | Sum up before conclusion |
Production Tip
Build a full conclusion arc: [Context] + 이런 이유로 + [Cause] + 그 결과 + [Specific outcome] + 종합하면 + [Final summary]. This is the exact structure used in Korean presentations and persuasive speech. Even in casual conversation, using just two of these in sequence makes your Korean sound remarkably structured.
Exercise 4 — Dialogue Completion
A. A: 왜 잘 됐어요? / B: 팀원들이 열심히 했어요. ___라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요.
<summary>Answer
따 — 따라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요. (Therefore, a good result came out.)
B. A: 힘들었죠? / B: 네, 근데 ___국 잘 끝났어요.
<summary>Answer
결 — 결국 잘 끝났어요. (In the end, it finished well.)
C. A: 어떻게 이렇게 됐어요? / B: 이렇게 ___서 여기까지 왔어요.
<summary>Answer
해 — 이렇게 해서 여기까지 왔어요. (This is how it came to this point.)
D. A: 왜 선택했어요? / B: 이런 이유로 이쪽을 ___했어요.
<summary>Answer
선택 — 이런 이유로 이쪽을 선택했어요. (For this reason, I chose this option.)
E. A: 실력이 많이 늘었네요. / B: 네, 선생님 ___분에 가능했어요.
<summary>Answer
덕 — 선생님 덕분에 가능했어요. (Thanks to my teacher, it was possible.)
F. A: 행사 왜 취소됐어요? / B: 비가 왔기 ___문에 취소됐어요.
<summary>Answer
때 — 비가 왔기 때문에 취소됐어요. (Because it rained, it was canceled.)
G. A: 결론이 뭐예요? / B: ___합하면, 이 방법이 가장 효율적이에요.
<summary>Answer
종 — 종합하면, 이 방법이 가장 효율적이에요. (To sum up, this method is the most efficient.)
H. A: 그래서 어떻게 됐어요? / B: 그 ___과 저도 잘 모르게 됐어요.
<summary>Answer
결 — 그 결과 저도 잘 모르게 됐어요. (As a result, even I stopped knowing.)
I. A: 마지막으로 한 말씀. / B: ___적으로, 모두 고생 많으셨어요.
<summary>Answer
결과 — 결과적으로, 모두 고생 많으셨어요. (As a result of everything, everyone worked very hard.)
J. A: 이제 끝인가요? / B: 네, 최종___으로 이것으로 마무리하겠습니다.
<summary>Answer
적 — 최종적으로 이것으로 마무리하겠습니다. (Finally, I will wrap up with this.)
Useful Phrases
Phrase | Meaning |
따라서 좋은 결과가 나왔어요 | Therefore a good result came out |
결국 잘 끝났어요 | In the end it finished well |
이렇게 해서 왔어요 | This is how it came about |
이런 이유로 선택했어요 | For this reason I chose it |
덕분에 가능했어요 | Thanks to ~ it was possible |
때문에 취소됐어요 | Because of ~ it was canceled |
종합하면 | To sum up |
그 결과 | As a result of that |
결과적으로 | As a result (neutral) |
최종적으로 마무리하다 | To formally wrap up |
Conversation Tip
When explaining why something happened, pair 이런 이유로 (for this reason) with 그 결과 (as a result of that) for a complete cause-and-effect chain. This two-step structure sounds very mature in Korean and is exactly what you'd hear in a work presentation or formal meeting.
Exercise 5 — Free Speaking Practice
A. Describe a positive outcome using 덕분에.
<summary>Sample Answer
매일 연습한 덕분에 한국어 실력이 많이 늘었어요. (Thanks to practicing every day, my Korean has improved a lot.)
B. Explain a final conclusion using 결국 after describing a process.
<summary>Sample Answer
처음에는 정말 어려웠어요. 몇 번 포기하려고도 했어요. 하지만 결국 해냈어요. (At first it was really difficult. I even thought about giving up a few times. But in the end, I did it.)
C. Give a logical conclusion with 따라서 in a formal tone.
<summary>Sample Answer
이 방법이 가장 효율적이에요. 따라서 이쪽을 추천드려요. (This method is the most efficient. Therefore, I recommend this one.)
D. Sum up a short argument using 종합하면 before your final conclusion.
<summary>Sample Answer
한국어는 재미있어요. 실용적이기도 해요. 그리고 배울 내용이 많아요. 종합하면, 시작하면 계속하게 돼요. (Korean is interesting. It's also practical. And there's a lot to learn. To sum up, once you start, you'll keep going.)
E. Describe how something came about using 이렇게 해서.
<summary>Sample Answer
처음에 드라마를 보다가 한국어가 좋아졌어요. 이렇게 해서 한국어 공부를 시작하게 됐어요. (I started watching dramas and came to like Korean. This is how I started learning Korean.)
Sentence Starters
Starter | Use |
결과적으로 | Neutral conclusion |
결국 | After a process |
따라서 | Formal logical |
그러므로 | Academic |
그래서 | Casual spoken |
덕분에 | Positive cause |
때문에 | Neutral/negative |
이런 이유로 | For this reason |
종합하면 | To sum up |
이렇게 해서 | This is how |
Speaking Challenge
Tell a short story about something you achieved. Use at least 3 different result/conclusion connectors: start with 이런 이유로 (why you started), use 그 결과 (what came of your effort), and close with 결국 or 결과적으로 (the final outcome). Aim for 30–45 seconds of connected speech.
노력하면 결국 결과가 나와요! ✨
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