1.
cause and effect, causation
The relationship between causes and their results. Used in both philosophical/scientific and Buddhist contexts.
因果関係を調べる。
To investigate the causal relationship.
喫煙と肺がんの因果関係は明らかだ。
The causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer is clear.
科学は因果の法則に基づいている。
Science is based on the laws of causation.
2.
karma, fate, retribution
From the Buddhist concept that past actions determine present circumstances. Often carries a negative nuance, suggesting misfortune brought about by past deeds.
因果な運命だ。
It's a cruel twist of fate.
因果応報とはこのことだ。
This is what they mean by 'reap what you sow.'
親の因果が子に報いるとは思いたくない。
I don't want to believe that parents' karma is visited upon their children.
Derived from the Buddhist concept of 因 (cause) and 果 (effect/result). In modern Japanese, sense 1 is used in academic and scientific contexts, while sense 2 retains the original Buddhist connotation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 因果関係 — causal relationship
- 因果応報 — karmic retribution, reap what you sow
- 因果な運命 — cruel/karmic fate
- 因果の法則 — law of cause and effect