因果报应 cause and effect
Explanation
指一切事物都有其原因和结果，善恶行为都会产生相应的报应。通常指佛教中的一种因果轮回的思想，认为今生所作所为会影响来世。
Refers to the fact that all things have their causes and consequences, and that good and evil deeds will produce corresponding retribution. It usually refers to a Buddhist idea of the cycle of cause and effect, which believes that one's actions in this life will affect the next.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一位心地善良的老农。他一生勤劳耕作，乐善好施，经常帮助村里的穷人。有一天，村里来了个恶霸，他仗着自己权势大，欺压百姓，横行霸道。老农看不惯恶霸的所作所为，多次劝说他改邪归正，但恶霸却置之不理，反而变本加厉地欺负老农。老农虽然受了委屈，但他并没有怨天尤人，依然坚持着自己的善良本性。后来，恶霸因为作恶多端，最终受到了法律的制裁，而老农则因为他的善行而受到了人们的尊敬。这个故事，体现了因果报应的道理。
Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, there lived a kind-hearted old farmer. He worked hard all his life, was charitable, and often helped the poor in the village. One day, a bully came to the village. He took advantage of his power to oppress the people and behaved recklessly. The farmer couldn't stand the bully's actions and tried many times to persuade him to change his ways, but the bully ignored him and even bullied the farmer more fiercely. Although the farmer suffered grievances, he didn't blame anyone and still adhered to his kind nature. Later, the bully was eventually punished by law for his many evil deeds, while the farmer was respected by the people for his good deeds. This story illustrates the principle of cause and effect.
Usage
多用于谈论人生哲理，或评价某种行为的后果。
Often used to discuss life's philosophies or to evaluate the consequences of a certain behavior.
Examples
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善有善报，恶有恶报，这是因果报应的必然规律。
shàn yǒu shàn bào, è yǒu è bào, zhè shì yīn guǒ bào yìng de bìrán guīlǜ.
Good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil; this is the inevitable law of cause and effect.
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他做了坏事，迟早会受到因果报应的。
tā zuò le huài shì, chí zǎo huì shòudào yīn guǒ bào yìng de.
He did bad things, sooner or later he will receive retribution.
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从因果报应的角度来看，我们应该多行善事。
cóng yīn guǒ bào yìng de jiǎodù lái kàn, wǒmen yīnggāi duō xíng shàn shì
From the perspective of cause and effect, we should do more good deeds.